An investigation into Catholic Paedophiles at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire has revealed that safeguarding flaws at a top Catholic boarding school exposed youngsters to violence.
The Charity Commission investigation on Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire revealed “significant shortcomings” in the management, safeguarding, and governance of the two trusts controlling it.
Operating on the same ground as Ampleforth Abbey, an independent school run by the Ampleforth Abbey Trust (AAT), St Laurence Educational Trust manages Ampleforth College. Abbey monks tutor students at the college and offer chaplaincy.
Allegations of sexual abuse by abbey monks and lay servants sparked the investigation starting in 2016.
Following this, the Abbey Board was informed of nine previously undisclosed claims of severe abuse allegations and convictions, both historic and modern, in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
“Most of these were reported to have been claimed to have been committed against students by staff and monks in place at the time,” the Charity Commission’s investigation stated.
Investigators claimed they found many earlier cases in which trustees “failed to fulfil their responsibilities under charity law, which put students at the college at risk of harm” and charities “failed to manage safeguarding incidents appropriately.”
Due to “serious failings,” Ampleforth was told by the Government in November 2020 to cease enrolling new students.
A 2018 independent investigation on child sexual abuse in the institution drew criticism for the school.
Appointed in 2018, interim management reportedly “identified that the obligations of loyalty to their brothers in the monastic community could have led to decisions being taken that were not always solely in the best interests of AAT.”
According to the Charity Commission, both organisations have made “positive strides,” with the St. Laurence Educational Trust having since gotten a “Good” Ofsted inspection and readmittance to the Headmaster’s Conference. An audit by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency was passed satisfactorily by the Abbey Trust.
Head of investigations at the Commission, Amy Spiller, said: “The investigation revealed multiple flaws in the approach to and handling of safeguarding issues across both organisations, which put pupils at risk of harm. All charities should give safeguarding top importance. Hence, the lack of control shown in the running of these organisations reflects poor management.
“We appreciate the progress both charities have made during the investigation, including recent regulatory standard compliance, but our investigation’s results underlined the need to keep high safeguarding standards and rebuild public confidence.”
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