Top grammar faces claims of sex abuse and misogyny
A TOP state school has been condemned for its “toxic male culture” by a former pupil left “genuinely traumatised” by her time there.
Scarlett Mansfield, 26, claimed there was widespread abuse and misogyny when she was in the sixth-form at Colchester Royal Grammar School in Essex.
But Scarlett said she saw male students joke about domestic abuse, sexism and racism, writing it off as “just good craic”.
She wrote in blog: “I was promised that it offered the best education money can’t buy. However, I, and many of the girls since, received far more than we ever bargained
for – leaving us genuinely traumatised by the memory of our time at the school.”
Her claims came after Everyone’s Invited, the website-led movement against sex abuse at schools and colleges, ignited debate.
Scarlett’s blog post drew almost 200 anonymous comments from current and ex
pupils at Colchester Grammar. One woman said she was raped at a party aged 15. Writer Scarlett claimed another former boy pupil locked himself in two girls’ cars and refused to leave until they performed a sex act.
Headteacher John Russell expressed his “shock and sadness” at the allegations. He said they were “wholly unacceptable” and there was “clearly” more work to do.
Mr Russell added: “All reported incidents are dealt with in line with the highest levels of our code of conduct and we keep thorough records of such incidents.
“We recognise the value of a united approach to raising awareness of discrimination, harassment and abuse in every form it takes.
“We are clear that inaction by any bystander is to be complicit and is therefore equally unacceptable.”
The school, which is almost 900 years old, ranks highly for exam results, has two royal charters and was once named secondary school of the decade for East Anglia.