School: member of staff being charged with possessing indecent images

[AbbeNumber1]

Hi,

I have a dilemma, the school posted a letter saying that a former member of the premises staff has pleaded guilty to being charged with possessing indecent images of children. Since the arrest they have co-operated fully with the police enquiry and are reassured that no children from the school were involved at any point in the allegations. Then it goes on referring to the person as 'he'.....

I have a dilemma, as in absence of not noticing anyone leaving in the last 6 month, it springs to my mind - there were two male tutors in this primary school in year 5 last year:

• one left approximately this time a year ago, i.e. 3 month before end of the year, claiming 'suffering from the depression' and 'wanting to pursue his singing and guitar'.
  

• the other male tutor - from the the opposite class, left at the end of that school year and moved out of area to ' to settle in with the girlfriend'.
  

A few of the parents used the first above-mentioned tutor for home-tutoring in preparation for entrance exams - and at some stage he came to our house too. After a while we found a tutor who could offer longer sessions - which suited us better and we parted with the former one.
However, I referred him to a couple of other parents.

I have no idea to whom school referring in their letter, but, if it is the tutor we referred - I feel it is my duty to alert other parent to the school's letter. One with a boy of 14, no father around and introvert-y so to speak and into computer games etc. ....

I do not think it coudl be an after school club - as it is outsourced to a third party who employs them.

Would anyone know, if the school should let me know the name if I ask the Head for the reason stated above ?..
Is there a registrar with the names of people pleased guilty for me to check the names, like in America?

Or maybe it is just a smoke without a fire. ...

Thank you, appreciate the insight and suggestions.

[TelephoneIgnoringMachine]

You could presumably ask the school, & explain why you need to know. It's up to them whether are prepared/allowed to tell you.

[Kirst16]

I am confused, you have opened your post stating that the letter referred to a former member of premises staff, which to me would allude to a caretaker or cleaner, so think you are jumping to conclusions in associating either of these tutors to the allegations.

[BadgersArse]

I think if you have concerns you should call the police. Like you would for any other crime. You wouldn't go around notifying people in other instances would you.

[BadgersArse]

And Christ Alive if you jumped to the wrong conclusion you could be in serious trouble.

I don't see quite, why this is your problem

[BadgersArse]

Ps "the. Depression" "the girlfriend "?!

[startwig1982]

I agree with Kirst. The letter says premises staff so that means a caretaker/cleaner/cook.

It's very unlikely they'll tell you who it is.

[BadgersArse]

I don't see why it's her business. The police will have spoken to anyone they think was involved or affected.

[millionsmom]

Well, I would do a quick Google search with the guys' names to see if anything pops up.

If nothing did then I'd ask the school if it was either of them. I'd know for sure then.

I can see why you're worried. A friend of mine allowed a sweet couple she knew from Church to babysit when she needed them, this went on for a number of years. She happily recommended them to the rest of us if we ever needed a sitter. She happened to Google the wife - part of the wife's wish to have her family tree done, no dodgy feelings or anything. Turned out the husband had been convicted of taking part in a gang rape of a girl they met at a bus stop! She confronted them about it, the couple downplayed it, said the girl was asking for it, she liked group sex, it was all out if proportion. The husband didn't go to prison, if it was as the girl said surely he would've been sent etc. How could she think that of them?
Further digging brought up the court case, yup, it was as they said apart from the girls age. She was 11.
But the very worst part? Others at the Church knew about it, but said nothing. How they can live with themselves I don't know.

[Hakluyt]

Is there a contact number on the letter?

If so, ring to and just say what you said here. If the person concerned is x then it may be relevant that I recommended him as a tutor to these people.

That's all you need to do.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

A former friend of mine was convicted of tjis offence. When he was convicted his name was all over the local press because he was a primary school teacher, it also made The Sun. In the absence of that, I think Hak's response is the best course of action.

[Primaryteach87]

It isn't one of the teachers. In school-speak premises staff is a caretaker or cleaner. Categorically. Also, unless it says otherwise, I wouldn't assume they had to have left very recently. It might have been five years ago, they would still be a former member of staff. Stop worrying.

[TheSweeper]

And if you can't stop worrying, call the school and pass on your friend's number and address to the Head so he/she can make contact in the very, very unlikely circumstances that it is the tutor. No need for you to get involved.

[SeaUnicorns]

The use of inverted commas here is very patronising, depression is a very very real illness to which teachers aren't immune, and weirdly enough men do have girlfriends. You may have meant them as a quote but it sounds like you don't believe their reason for leaving.

And as PP have said premises staff aren't the teachers so you have given potentially identifying information about two entirely innocent people, well done. And it is identifying because other parents at the school will have got the same letter and be aware of the teachers your referring to, and you've just made a allegation against them.

Now I've said that, follow Hak's suggestion, it's not your duty to inform the parents it's the schools, so let the school know.

[honeysucklejasmine]

As pp have said, "premises staff" means caretaker or cleaner. Maybe catering at the most.

[sashh]

Criminal convictions are a matter of public record and things like this are often in the local paper.

It is unlikely to be either of the two you are thinking about due to the time scale, 6 months is not long for an investigation and guilty plea.

[ShipwreckedAndComatose]

Premises staff is not teaching staff.

[Unexpected]

A "former" member of staff does not necessarily mean someone who left recently, it could be someone who was there five years ago! Do you know the details of all staff who have left going back years?! I also can't follow your point about informing other parents - if the school posted a letter to you as a parent, surely all other parents will have also received the same letter? Please do not spread rumours about a member of staff based on absolutely no information whatsoever.

[ThickOrSomething]

" Ps "the. Depression" "the girlfriend "?! "

i suppose OP has English as a second language - what's your beef?
sorry but I am increasingly finding that pulling people up on their use of English a really arsey response.

[mummytime]

Also premises staff could be a cleaner who comes in on a contract - you would have no idea who they were (unless you hang around school quite late). The ones at DCs Primary are bussed in about 4 pm and bussed out about 7? At a secondary I worked at even teachers only knew them if they spent a lot of time working late in the classrooms.

I didn't think the OP had English as a second language - more that they were casting aspersions but that could be a misunderstanding.