A teacher at a top Welsh secondary school has been arrested and suspended, the school’s headteacher has confirmed.
Trevor Brown, head of Stanwell School in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, has sent a letter to parents saying a police investigation is ongoing but pupils will be spoken to at school . The letter is jointly signed by the school’s chair of governors Tony Rogers and the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s director of learning and skills Paula Ham.
In a statement, South Wales Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images.
The 2,000 pupil foundation school was rated excellent by Estyn at its last inspection in 2015.
The whole text of the letter to parents and carers:
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are writing to inform you that one member of staff at Stanwell has been suspended following their arrest as part of a police investigation.
In line with the school’s robust safeguarding procedures the member of staff was suspended with immediate effect and is not working at the school.
We are not able to give any further information at this time due to the ongoing police investigation. However, we want to reassure you that there are no safeguarding concerns in relation to any other members of staff in connection with this investigation and that Stanwell pupils are in no way at risk.
We understand pupils may be distressed by this news and we have taken the decision to inform you today after school so that you can speak to your children first at home. We will be speaking to the pupils at school in the morning to outline the situation.
Stanwell has exceptionally strong pastoral care networks. Pupils will, as always, have access to any support they may need via our staff.
As additional information becomes available we will strive to keep all parents, carers and pupils updated wherever we can.
On behalf of the whole school community we would like to thank you in advance for your support.
Yours faithfully, Trevor Brown, headteacher.
Tony Rogers, chair of governors
Paula Ham, director of learning and skills Vale of Glamorgan local authority.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said that a 45-year-old man, from Barry, had been arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
She added that the arrest was not linked in any way to the school or any pupils at the school.
Trevor Brown, Headteacher at Stanwell School, said: “One member of staff has been suspended following their arrest as part of a police investigation.
“In line with the school’s robust safeguarding procedures the member of staff was suspended with immediate effect and is not working at school.
“I would like to reassure the whole school community that there are no safeguarding concerns in relation to any other members of staff in connection with this investigation, and that Stanwell pupils are in no way at risk.
“Our school has exceptionally strong pastoral care networks. Pupils will, as always, have access to any support they may need through these.”
A spokesperson for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: “A member of staff at Stanwell School in Penarth has been suspended following their arrest as part of a police investigation. The Council’s safeguarding team are currently supporting the police with their enquiries.
“In line with the school’s robust safeguarding procedures the member of staff was suspended with immediate effect and is not working at school. There are no safeguarding concerns in relation to any other members of staff in connection with this investigation.”
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