The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse the long running investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in residential schools still continues through November 2020.
An earlier report by (IICSA) said the school at Ampleforth was ‘secretive, evasive and suspicious’. By the same token ‘the perpetrators did not hide their sexual interests’ in a culture of blatant acceptance of abusive behaviour. Powerful Abbots and church officials seemed more interested in protecting the Catholic Church’s reputation than safeguarding children.
Latest Government Banning Order
Now, and belatedly some may think, the Department of Education (DfE) has issued a banning instruction to the school to ‘cease to admit’ anymore pupils as part of it’s policy of safeguarding the education and well-being of children.’ Apparently efforts to improve safeguarding in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal have been slow and insufficient according to the Education secretary. Without strict separation between the school and the abbey there are still conflicting priorities.
The DfE intervention may seem a lot too late but necessary never the less. However it will surprise no one that the school says it will appeal rather than spend efforts in putting things right.
From Charity Chit Chat 6th April 2018 Post
’12 months and 12 years on and Ampleforth Abbey and St Laurence Education Trust are still in the news over sexual abuse allegations. The charity commission has this month stripped both charities of responsibility for pupil welfare after last years inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The independent inquiry, set up by Teressa May, heard allegations against 40 monks and teachers. An interim manager has been appointed to both charities.
In 2006 Fr Piers Grant-Ferris a Benedictine monk and teacher at Ampleforth was jailed when he admitted 20 indecent assaults on young boys. Another former Ampleforth teacher, Gregory Carroll, was imprisoned in 2005 for the abuse of pupils but was ‘forgiven by the Ampleforth authorities’.’