Former Cumbria Wings School pupils say abuse allegations ignored

Former pupils at a residential school caring for vulnerable young people have said they were ignored when reporting claims of abuse.

Wings School Cumbria in Milnthorpe closed down in July after Ofsted found its physical intervention practice saw “pupils subjected to excessive force and unsafe holds”.

Three pupils allege their complaints of abuse were not taken seriously by the authorities and said they were viewed as “troublemakers” because of their history in care.

A spokesperson for the former school said all complaints were taken seriously and “robustly investigated”.

Oakwood Solicitors said it was now dealing with about 30 cases linked to the school, almost double the number reported last month.

The firm said these mainly related to “physical assaults in the form of or committed during excessive restraints, but there are a small number of allegations of abuse of a sexual nature”.

In December police said officers were investigating allegations of abuse at a school in South Cumbria.

Former Wings School pupil Harvey Benson alleged that during physical restraints some staff could be “forceful and violent”.

During one, he said a staff member kneed him in the ribs and barricaded him in a classroom.

Mr Benson said he made three reports to police in 2019, two reports to his social worker in 2019 and one report to Ofsted in 2022, detailing concerns for other pupils.

In his first report to police, he said the officer responded: “Well that’s how I treat my kids if they were misbehaving.”

Mr Benson, who is campaigning for CCTV in care home communal areas and bodycams for staff, said: “The police and the authorities dismissed every single one of us for years as troublemakers… that we were making up these allegations to cause trouble.

“It’s a catastrophic failure.”

An emergency Ofsted inspection in June found staff were “directed not to follow the school’s safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures when they have serious concerns”.

Inspectors said: “This puts pupils at risk of considerable harm.”

Meanwhile, there were 245 reports of abuse, physical and sexual, made to Westmorland and Furness Council from 2015 to 2024, a Freedom of Information request seen by the BBC revealed.

These included pupils reporting against other pupils and staff, and staff reporting being assaulted by youngsters.

A total of 41 complaints were substantiated.

Another former pupil, Ellis Robertson, alleged he was assaulted by a member of staff in 2014.

He said he reported it to Wings School management but it got “brushed under the carpet”.

“That staff member came up to me and after I made the report, started laughing and said ‘do you think I’ve been sacked? Think again’.

“It made my life a living hell. It was heartbreaking because I just kept doubting myself.

“I just want kids in care to be listened to.”

Meanwhile Terrance Douglass, who was a resident at Wings School for several years, said he was sometimes attacked by other pupils but was not believed by staff when he reported it.

Solicitor Molly Frost said the claims being pursued against Kedleston Group, which ran the school, dated from 2003 to 2024.

“Many children who find themselves in care are there because they come from troubled backgrounds.

“It is not uncommon for these young people to be suffering from behavioural difficulties or other psychological issues.”

Teesside University professor of psychology Nadia Wager told the BBC: “Children in care can be seen as troublesome and it tends to be that their allegations are not taken seriously.

“It means that predatory offenders know that this is a group of young people who could be targeted because nobody is going to listen to them.

“We have this culture of victim-blaming, and I would say that children in care are victims in some way: It’s very much seen as it’s their fault that they are there.

“This case needs investigating by an independent body.

“I do understand that there is a risk, as staff, of false allegations being made about you.

“But at the same time, good staff would be part of a culture where they could recognise and appreciate there’s a process to go through.

Kedleston Group declined to discuss specific cases, but a spokesperson for the school said: “The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our absolute priority.

“Any concerns raised are always taken very seriously. They are reported to all relevant authorities and robustly investigated.

“Should any issue be identified, positive and proactive action is taken.”

An Ofsted spokesperson reiterated the organisation’s comment that: “It is very upsetting to hear allegations of abuse from pupils at Wings School.

“Safeguarding is central to our inspections and we take it extremely seriously.

“We will always take quick and decisive action when we uncover concerns on inspection, including suspending a setting’s registration where necessary.”

Cumbria Police said it was “working closely with a number of partner agencies as part of the inquiry”.

The investigation seeks to identify anyone who is an alleged victim of abuse by employees while attending the school.

“At this point we can’t give any details about findings or specific allegations; our sole focus is ensuring any victims are being fully supported throughout this difficult time,” a spokesman for the force said.

Anyone with any information has been asked to submit details to the force’s major incident public portal.