Senior Eton master is accused of sex attack on pupil
Senior Eton master is accused of sex attack on pupil at world-renowned £40,000-a-year public school
- ‘It is a major scandal and has come as a massive shock to everyone’, source said
- Simon Henderson, Head Master, has brought in a child safeguarding officer
- Alumni includes 19 former Prime Ministers, and Tory front runner Boris Johnson
Eton College has been rocked by allegations of child sex abuse by a senior master at the world-renowned school.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that serious claims were made against the teacher in recent weeks at the £40,000-a-year public school which was attended by Princes William and Harry.
It is understood that the school has taken action in line with its safeguarding procedures while the allegations are investigated.
‘It is a major scandal and has come as a massive shock to everyone. It’s the talk of the whole school,’ a source said.
Eton College has been rocked by allegations of child sex abuse by a senior master at the world-renowned school
Simon Henderson, Eton’s Head Master, is understood to have brought in a child safeguarding officer from the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead council to provide support and advice to the school and the alleged victim.
It is unclear if police have been called in and the Thames Valley force last night declined to comment.
Asked about the allegations, Eton College said in a statement: ‘The welfare and wellbeing of our pupils is Eton’s top priority.
A stellar list of alumni includes 19 former Prime Ministers, Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson (pictured in 1979) and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury
‘We take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously and, when appropriate, work closely with the relevant authorities, in line with our established procedures.’
The claims engulfing the almost-600-year-old college are potentially damaging to its reputation as one of the world’s best schools.
Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton has been called ‘the chief nurse of England’s statesmen’ due to the number of pupils who go on to hold high office.
A stellar list of alumni includes 19 former Prime Ministers, Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The school, which has 1,300 pupils, is renowned for its academic excellence. Almost all of the boys go on to study at top universities with a third attending Oxford or Cambridge.
Facilities include a 400-seat theatre; Dorney Lake which hosted the 2012 Olympic rowing events; two swimming pools; 30 cricket pitches and 24 football and hockey pitches.
It also has two libraries, a vast collection of fine and decorative art including works by Sir Joshua Reynolds and J. M. W. Turner and three museums. Fees are £12,900 per term and there are 1,200 applicants for the 250 places available each year.
The Good Schools Guide states: ‘Eton looks for that extra “Je ne sais quoi” – a quality that is more about character and personality than bolt-on achievements.’
Simon Henderson (pictured), Eton’s Head Master, is understood to have brought in a child safeguarding officer from the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead council to provide support and advice to the school and the alleged victim
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