Police probe abuse claims at top school as head and three teachers sent home

May 11 2008 Exclusive by David Taylor

A HEAD teacher and three senior colleagues have been moved from a school as police probe claims of child abuse.

Liz McKenna, deputy Marion Parry and teachers Alison McGuinness and Helen Grech are all away from their desks at Middlefield Residential School.

It is understood the allegations are of psychological abuse of children at the Glasgow school, which has a roll of 28 autistic pupils.

The investigation is being handled by the Strathclyde Police Child Protection Unit and a report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.

None of the teachers has been charged and it is not known if any of them are mentioned by name in the complaint which sparked the investigation.

A source said the accusation was made by a former member of staff.

The four teachers have not been suspended but are working elsewhere.

The source said: "The complaint is being treated extremely seriously. Any allegation of abuse of children in a school has to be treated like that.

"The teachers were asked to leave the school while the investigation is carried out.

"An interim head has been appointed and the obvious intention is to keep the school running as normally as possible for the sake of the pupils."

The school, which is operated by Glasgow City Council, is nondenominational and has boys and girls aged five to 18.

Some pupils board at the school, which is in Hyndland, and others travel from home.

Glasgow City Council said: "Staff have co-operated fully with police and the council has followed normal guidelines.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

Ms McKenna's husband said she did not want to comment. None of the other teachers would comment either.

Strathclyde Police said: "We received a complaint in relation to practices at Middlefield. Investigations have been carried out and a report submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

The school got a glowing report from inspectors in 2006. They said: "Almost all parents and support staff and all teachers and care staff were very positive about almost all aspects of the school.

"Almost all parents said they felt welcome in the school. They believed staff monitored their children's progress and communicated effectively. They also felt staff showed concern for the care and welfare of their children."

'Complaint is being taken extremely seriously'

- A school source yesterday

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