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Many people knew Professor Jeremy Forrest was involved in a student, nobody went to the police. Why? Because there is no law that says a school must. We met parents struggling measures

"Oh, it was lovely. Was probably the best teacher I ever had, even now," said Vivien over tea in her kitchen. "He was always laughing and joking, very friendly. I kept saying how wonderful and well mannered he was, who wants all parents. "

Appointed in 1995 to work at Hillside First School in Weston-super-Mare, Nigel Leat was indeed a member of the school staff, made popular not only with children but parents too. Vivien and was happy when her daughter, Elinor began in his class, and delighted when he took a keen interest in its progress.

Elinor was only six years old when Leat began molesting her in her classroom during school hours in front of their classmates. It was not the first nor the last girl who devoured in 2011 Leat was convicted of 36 sexual offenses against five children. It is likely that he abused many others. By Vivien, the horror of discovering that her daughter had been abused was developed in a very public way. "I found out on Facebook," says Vivien today. "I am connected, and one of my friends said," Oh, my God, I can not believe that Professor Weston was arrested for child abuse. "

Vivien says she knew then that her daughter had been involved. The police investigation showed his right, the discovery of 147 movies recorded on the laptop showed Elinor Leat sexually abused over a period of six months. "The police can track dates, sometimes there was shooting in the week, and then there would be six in one day." Vivien says

I wonder how it could be that this teacher was able to molest children during school hours, for several years. "He designed the room so that he could abuse these children behind a piano, and if someone came in, the door hit the piano, alerting

"and made around a table, where he was to have a group of children playing and a girl sitting next to him. His hand not automatically produce your penis. Qu ' it does not even need to say a word to one of these girls - it automatically takes laptop would in a chair where he sat face to film "

..

Vivien is remarkably matter-of-fact: the only way to get by, he said, was to block the shock, anger and guilt that engulfed her when told the violation. However, it is clear that he feels anger at the school for failing to protect her daughter, the lagoon in the direction that the government believes Leat allowed children to consume more than a decade .

was only after the publication last year of the serious case review of what happened in Hillside, Vivien, said she took the surprising fact that many staff had throughout the years, recorded 30 different problems regarding Leat behavior with children in their care.

No less than 11 that were reported to the school principal, Christopher Hood. They vary in apparent seriousness, but nobody saw Leat with an erection while sitting with a child on the cushions of the library. On another occasion, daughter Vivien to a staff member of handwritten notes by the pant leg. In no time, the Director shall inform the parents of a child, the local authority or the police did - although he regarded the matter as serious enough to issue a verbal warning to Leat opportunity

Leat was treated by the courts - who was jailed indefinitely for two years. But a criminal investigation began when a boy told his mother that he had been hit indecent, and police said the mother.

Rarely children who disclose sexual abuse when it occurs. The shame of his own apparent approval, the risk of losing the approval of his attacker and the blame for the damage they cause to their parents and the school community are very effective gags. Many wait for years, even decades, often until their parents died, some do not report at all

Although Elinor was "the worst abused many of them," says Vivien (the only charge was Leat initially pleaded not guilty to attempted rape), "she never said anything of the everything and never showed any signs. When asked, she began to cry, but she said nothing happened. And we know you have, because Nigel Leat filmed. "

While everyone recognizes that child abuse is a crime, says Vivien or not to report cases - or known - abuse of authority outside the school is discretionary. There is currently no law in this country to say that the staff responsible for children must report suspected abuse or protection expert advice of suspected child, which can advise on what will happen next. government guidance strongly encourages directors to pick up the phone, but there is no legal sanction if they do.

According administrators to make the right decision, no doubt, can put children at risk, said Richard Bird, counsel for the Association of Chiefs of school and college. "When we talk about cases of sexual abuse of children, many bosses will never encountered a case in his career," he said. "So just do not have the experience to make that judgment." . Bird points in a case that you do not know "When a director is hesitant rang expert child protection, and within 20 minutes, the staff member has been suspended - and rightly, I think there should be a presumption of consultation. ".

Hillside

head may have been deplorable judgment by not declaring the behavior of Leat as legal advice indicates that it should. However, some staff reported their concerns to him. It is easy to see how it does not always happen in time to save the children from danger. Having the courage to speak when you can put a dear colleague in the career of danger is a painful dilemma as Anna Smith, a former teacher in another school said. "I was pretty new, actually still on probation The last thing I wanted was to be accused of spreading rumors all the time, in the back of my mind was:" You read too much into this - It .. is a teacher, for the love of God. "

Anna taught in a large scale when she heard students speak a department head. "I noticed that he still had a bunch of kids around, but just thought it was popular," she said. "Then I heard two children talking about a school trip and told the other, "I wonder if I'll give you a camera, too. "And I thought, 'Oh, oh, it's a little strange."

She refused, but niggled. Then he heard other teachers mention in passing that they also knew that the teacher was giving away cameras, but "none of us really discussed because express suspicion and felt like I done something too big small thing. "

After a school trip back different, Smith said she told a teacher who had been there that "instead of eclipse with other teachers, the department head had slept with boys in her room. " Also spoke of an incident on the trip "was a child when he fled and called the police to find. And really, really did not want to return. His mother had to pick him up."

How

felt now? "I was uncomfortable around him. I watched games service. Spoke with people outside the school, but no one could really go. "

What is he thinking? Smith laughed. "Well, yes, but the school, like all schools, was very hierarchical. To reach the top, he had to go through the team. And there was in it." And, as she points out, she had no proof. "I was surprised by what he had heard, but the other half would say, 'Maybe you misunderstood things. And, like other teachers were talking, I guess I was expecting be released this way. "

Someone else has faced similar qualms about "snitching" to a colleague because, one day, suddenly and without explanation, the teacher was not. "I know he was brought before the courts, and I think he was allowed to teach children abducted," says Smith. However, a few years later, she is still embarrassed. "I wish I was brave enough to express my concerns," he said quietly. "It's hard when you're at the beginning of his career, and he did not want to be seen as a troublemaker."

Stanbridge Earls School girls were assaulted and raped by male students sexually. Personal files of cases of violence - including genital injuries of a young girl - but did not report what happened to the police or social services

such paralysis facing the unthinkable prospect of a colleague being a pedophile is what drives the current campaign to make it a legal obligation to inform the independent outside authority all allegations or abuse alleged. Pedophiles are not only married children, said Bridget date, official child protection in the Buckinghamshire council. They married colleagues and parents as well. "I can not count the times someone told me:" I feel a little uncomfortable about it - you are a wonderful teacher. "She sighs.

Vivien, also gives a laugh, remembering how much he loved Nigel Leat. "I do not think I wanted to believe that I was able to do this because he was a very nice person and was

teacher

. - The next person you trust with your children, family apart. "

This is certainly the case of three girls with special educational needs were successively abused by the male students in the ? 39,000 a year Stanbridge Earls boarding school in Hampshire. When we met, on a rainy day in June, the girls' mothers are fierce in his condemnation of a system that, they say, allowed their daughters to be stripped, publicly humiliated, sexually assaulted and raped without penalty legal for teachers, pastoral staff and nurses who recorded several cases of abuse (including genital injuries a girl who needed medical care), but did not report what happened to the police or services social.

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