Children at private school now safer, claim

CHILDREN at a private school are safer than a month ago, according to a county council education chief.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire’s lead member for education, was responding to a question about safeguarding at the Ruthin School after revelations the former headteacher had been sending inappropriate texts to young female students.

Toby Belfield was sacked from the £35,000-a-year boarding school after flirting with girls as young as 15 on social media.

The local authority vowed to close loopholes in safeguarding pupils at schools in the private sector after the scandal.

Speaking in response to Cllr Rhys Thomas, who asked if the council was happy with the safeguarding of pupils at the school, Cllr Hilditch-Roberts said: “There have been developments and the head has departed.

“The chair of governors has departed and there have been some resignations in the chamber of management. So, positive steps have been taken.

“Officers of the authority are working hand in hand with the school on all recommendations from the CIW (Care Inspectorate Wales) and Estyn reports.

“Safeguarding is at the forefront of the area and the school...

“I have every confidence in the work (our) officers are doing and we are in a better position now than we were a month ago in Ruthin School.”

Although the school is answerable to Welsh Government educationally, safeguarding issues are a matter for the local authority, which said it did raise issues about the school previously that led to an investigation.