(Title Image: Wales Online)
Brynteg Comprehensive School has apologised for historic sex abuse by former art teacher, Clive Hally (more background: Ghosts from Brynteg’s past haunt the present following historic sex abuse bombshell).
BBC Wales’ Rebecca John and Chris Wood recently provided a major update on investigations into sex abuse at the school.
“Childhood abuse has a devastating effect on the emotional well-being and mental health of survivors, and it is thanks to their tremendous courage that his abhorrent actions were ultimately revealed.
“What Mr Hally did remains a matter of huge concern, great sadness and regret for all concerned.
“Brynteg School has always been a strong, caring, close-knit community, and we are resolved to do all that we can to prevent this from happening again.”
– Brynteg School statement (via BBC Wales)
Some useful links: Survivors UK, BBC Action Line, Rape & Sexual Assault (South Wales Police)
Hally was found dead at a reservoir near Maesteg in 2019. He was awaiting a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service after two formal complaints were made to the police. A formal verdict of suicide was returned in November that year.
Reportedly, Hally did admit to some of the allegations when interviewed by police. A further five complaints – all men – dating from between 1980 and 2009 (he retired in 2011) were made after the initial story broke, bringing the total to seven.
BBC Wales also report – rather worryingly – that a complaint dating to the 1970s was made about a second teacher, but the complaint was withdrawn. It may not be related, but it’s an open secret amongst older former pupils that at least one other teacher had a reputation for behaviour towards girls which would now be considered predatory or grooming.
“There is no excuse for concerns about this teacher’s behaviour not to have been acted upon. Children must feel safe in school and have clear routes to sharing concerns that they have. Staff must also be given the confidence that concerns they express will be heard and acted upon.
“While policies and practices have improved over the years, they are only effective if implemented properly. Abuse of this nature is by its nature secretive and abusers use their power to groom and silence their victims. It is therefore vital that all of us follow up concerns we may have, however small they may seem. If staff in any organisation feel that their concerns are not being heard by management, they can contact my office where they will benefit from legal protections as whistle-blowers.”
– Children’s Commissioner, Prof. Sally Holland
Report said to recommend refresher training for staff
BBC Wales says the report made several recommendations including improved training for staff to identify possible abuse, as well as refresher training on their duty of care when allegations are made.
Once again, it’s worth paying tribute to the brave individuals who’ve come forward. It won’t have been easy and there won’t be any justice either way. Hopefully, this goes some way towards closure.
As said previously, I don’t know of any incidents of abuse against anyone my age though the dates imply Hally may have been “active” while I was a pupil there.
Schools tend to get defensive about any stain on their character – whether it’s bullying or something else – and I suspect a lot of former pupils will take exception to the statement that Brynteg has “always been a strong, caring, close-knit community”. It’s clear the school hasn’t responded properly to allegations against staff in the past and they’ve been let off the hook somewhat due to the length of time involved; memories get fuzzy, names and faces are forgotten. For those teachers who knew what was going on and did nothing, it should certainly weigh on their consciences. They know who they are.
Nonetheless, despite rose-tinted nostalgia for “the good old days” these things are taken far more seriously now than they were in previous decades. This investigation has seemingly been handled the right way by the school, South Wales Police and Bridgend Council.
The report should be published – redacted to protect identities, of course. None of us should be relying on press releases and FOI requests. That’s not transparency. Anyone who was a pupil at Brynteg while Hally was there deserves to see it. This was a collective child safeguarding failure over several decades which resulted in countless children being entrusted to a manipulative abuser.
If Brynteg fully implements the recommendations then the independent investigation is probably enough in itself. Though given the timescale involved, a full Clywch-style inquiry should still be on the table.
