What's happened
Pupils at Whitefield School in London were allegedly locked in 'calming rooms' and subjected to abuse between 2014 and 2017. New leadership discovered 44 memory sticks of CCTV footage from the rooms in 2021. Police are now investigating the allegations of abuse at the school.
Why it matters
The abuse allegations at Whitefield School are deeply concerning and highlight the vulnerability of children with special needs. The investigation and potential legal actions could have significant implications for the school staff involved and the wider education system's safeguarding procedures.
What the papers say
The BBC investigation revealed that staff at Whitefield School were filmed hitting and kicking pupils and leaving them in their urine. Parents were misled about the use of isolation rooms, and the school's actions were described as 'torture'. The Flourish Learning Trust, which operates the school, acknowledged the wrongdoing and stated that the practices were 'wrong and wholly inappropriate'. The Metropolitan Police and local authorities have launched an investigation into the 'organised abuse' by staff between 2014 and 2017.
How we got here
Whitefield School in Walthamstow, London, is one of the UK's largest special schools with around 370 pupils. The abuse allegations stem from the use of 'calming rooms' between 2014 and 2017, where pupils were reportedly subjected to mistreatment and neglect. The discovery of CCTV footage in 2021 led to the exposure of the abuse, prompting investigations by authorities.
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