Kesgrave Hall School

Summary

Kesgrave Hall School was a private boys' boarding school in Kesgrave, England,[2] catering for pupils with high academic potential who were unable to flourish in mainstream schools.[1]

Kesgrave Hall School
Address
Map
Hall Road

, ,
IP5 2PU

Coordinates52°04′15″N 1°15′24″E / 52.070771°N 1.256759°E / 52.070771; 1.256759
Information
TypeBoarding School
Established1976
Closed1993
HeadmastersDerek Sheppard (1975-1984), Michael Smith (1984-1992), Eric Richardson (1992-1993), and John Williams (1993)
GenderMale (Single Sex)
Age11 to 18[1]
Enrolment40[1]
Main entrance hall

Incidents edit

Alan Stancliffe was convicted, in 1982, in 1999, and again in 2007, of indecently assaulting five boys at Kesgrave Hall School where he had been a teacher from 1978 to 1980.[1][2][3]

In December 2012, former pupils of the school came forward to describe the abuse they had suffered there during the 1980s, and their call for a new investigation was taken up and successful.[4][5][6] In May 2014, after being questioned over allegations of sexual abuse, Kenneth Wheatley (Scott), a former care worker at the school and a convicted child sex offender, was found dead.[7][8] In September 2014, Alan Stancliffe died while on bail facing a fourth set of child sex allegations.[9]

In November 2014, former language teacher, house-parent and Ofsted inspector Michael Lafford killed himself by swallowing pills when police investigating online child pornography visited his house.[10][11]

In March 2016, former care staff member John McKno admitted the sexual abuse of five boys, all under 16 and one under 14, at Kesgrave Hall, Beam College in Great Torrington, Devon, and St Michael's College in Tenbury Wells, Worcs.[12] He worked at Kesgrave Hall between 1986 and 1987.[13] On 13 May 2016, he was jailed for 14 years at Ipswich Crown Court.[14] McKno died of cardiac failure in September 2019 after choking on his breakfast in prison.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Teacher guilty of sexually abusing pupil". East Anglian Daily Times. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Sex shame of ex-teacher". Yorkshire Evening Post. 26 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Teacher guilty of sexually abusing pupil". East Anglian Daily Times. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019.
  4. ^ Josh Halliday (14 December 2012). "Former pupils call for new investigation into abuse claims at Suffolk school | Society". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  5. ^ Josh Halliday (14 December 2012). "Kesgrave Hall school abuse claims - video | Education | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  6. ^ Alexander Hanff (16 February 1986). "Kesgrave Hall school abuse claims: 'I still wake up in a panic' | Society". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  7. ^ Adwent, Colin (13 May 2014). "Kesgrave: Former school care worker Kenneth Wheatley, who was found dead in Barnsley after being questioned over abuse claims, was a convicted paedophile". Ipswich Star. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019.
  8. ^ Halliday, Josh (9 May 2014). "Kesgrave Hall school sex abuse suspect found dead". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014.
  9. ^ Adwent, Colin (7 October 2014). "Kesgrave: Three-time convicted paedophile teacher Alan Stancliffe dies while on bail facing fourth set of child sex allegations". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014.
  10. ^ Keown, Callum (10 June 2015). "Retired teacher killed himself after paedophile investigation police arrived to search his home". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015.
  11. ^ Adwent, Colin (12 June 2015). "Inquest finds ex-teacher questioned in Kesgrave Hall child abuse inquiry took his own life". Ipswich Star. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017.
  12. ^ Hunt, Jane (1 March 2016). "Former Suffolk maths teacher John McKno faces jail for abusing five boys at Kesgrave Hall school in 1970s and 80s". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019.
  13. ^ Woodger, Andrew (13 May 2016). "Kesgrave Hall school sex abuse: Victim slept with 'one eye open'". BBC News.
  14. ^ "Ex-teacher jailed for school sex abuse". BBC News. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Paedophile teacher John McKno choked to death on food". BBC News. 2 December 2019.