WCET Statement

23rd April 2025

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Volunteers,

Two years ago, the school was informed of historical allegations against a former member of staff, and our safeguarding procedures immediately kicked in with various agencies informed, including the police. Parents were alerted in a letter in September 2023 that an allegation had been made.

This afternoon, the full judgement of the Teacher Regulatory Agency Misconduct Panel against Mr Coyle, a former teacher and Headteacher of The River School, has been published on their website.

The following is a press statement from the Trustees and leadership of the school:

Mr Adrian Parsonage, Headteacher at The River School, said: “We are deeply shocked and appalled by the conduct of a former member of our school staff. The allegations relate to historic incidents between 2009 and 2014, and while Mr Coyle has not been part of our school for some time, we take matters of safeguarding with the utmost seriousness.”

“The safety and well-being of our pupils remain our highest priority. We have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students. We continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct in education.”

“We recognise the courage it takes to come forward in such cases and commend the former pupil for speaking up. We remain committed to ensuring that every young person feels safe, supported, and heard and encourage anyone with concerns to report them through the appropriate channels.”

A Parsonage

Headteacher

(on behalf of the Trustees of the Worcester Christian Education Trust)