Ballet school closes its doors amid allegations of sexual misconduct

A PRESTIGIOUS ballet school has closed amid allegations that a teacher sexually abused pupils.

The board of trustees at Ballet West in Taynuilt, Argyll, said that recent events had ‘driven it to the point of insolvency’.

Police are probing allegations made by students at the school, where a senior staff member has quit and another employee has been suspended.

They came to light after media inquiries about them were made to the school’s principal Gillian Barton earlier this month. The claims relate to alleged inappropriate touching. None of the alleged victims is under 16.

ITV News, which first reported the allegations, said its investigation had heard from more than 60 women – former students, staff and parents.

They all gave accounts of a staff member’s alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’ going back as far as 2004 and as recently as 2018.

The staff member denied any wrongdoing and resigned. The Board of Trustees said it ‘is deeply saddened by this outcome and appalled that parents and students have been placed in such a terrible situation’.

The board has launched an internal inquiry and also committed to an external inquiry and informed police.

Bath Spa University, whose students ‘accounted for almost 70 per cent of the school’s student intake’, has ended its relationship with the school, the Royal Academy of Dance withdrew its accreditation and the Scottish Qualifications Authority cancelled HNC and HND courses at the school.

The board said: ‘In short, these developments rendered the business of Ballet West unviable.’

Eileen Blackburn, of accountants French Duncan, has been appointed by Oban Sheriff Court as provisional liquidator and will now manage the school’s financial affairs.

Earlier this month, the influential Royal Academy of

‘Such a terrible situation’

Dance cut ties with the beleaguered school, stating it was ‘deeply concerned’ about the allegations.

Ballet West, of which Sir Billy Connolly is a patron, runs outreach classes in Glasgow and other Scottish cities.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Police have now received a number of reports which will be thoroughly investigated.

‘Police Scotland is committed to bringing sexual offenders before the courts and treat all reports of sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.’