Teacher resigns at St Paul’s Girls’ over abuse allegations

A male teacher from Susanna Reid and Rachel Weisz’s former girls’ school has resigned following allegations from ex-pupils of historic sex abuse. 

St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, West London, which costs £24,000 a year to attend, became mired in an abuse scandal last week after at least two former pupils claimed they were sexually abused between the 1970s and 1990s.

The allegations were sparked by Hollywood’s #MeToo social media campaign. 

The school’s High Mistress, Sarah Fletcher, has warned former pupils to identify people who are responsible for abuse.

Former pupils, called Old Paulinas, include Margaret Thatcher’s daughter, Carol, Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid and actress Rachel Weisz. There is no suggestion any of them suffered abuse. 

High Mistress Sarah Fletcher

The £24,000-a-year school’s (left) High Mistress, Sarah Fletcher (right), has warned former pupils to identify people who are responsible for abuse

Susanna Reid

Rachel Weisz

Former pupils include Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid (left) and actress Rachel Weisz (right). There is no suggestion any of them suffered abuse

In a letter to the Old Paulinas, High Mistress Sarah Fletcher, has warned former pupils to identify people who are responsible for abuse

In a letter to the Old Paulinas, High Mistress Sarah Fletcher, has warned former pupils to identify people who are responsible for abuse

In a letter to former students, first revealed by the Huffington Post, she wrote: ‘They [former pupils] have told us of past sexual abuse at St Paul’s.

‘Two wrote from personal experience, others about what they had heard from friends.

‘The allegations relate to a period spanning from the 1970s to 1990s.

‘We immediately passed the information onto the relevant authorities, and we remain in close contact with them.’

A spokeswoman for the school said: ‘We can confirm that the school recently received some allegations of past abuse. 

‘While these refer to events in the 1970s and 1990s, we take any information of this nature extremely seriously and have passed all the details immediately to the relevant authorities, with whom we remain in close contact.’ 

MailOnline has also contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.

Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Louis C.K. are among the most prominent names to have been accused

Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Louis C.K. are among the most prominent names to have been accused

Earlier this month, Spacey apologised to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Spacey's representatives later said he was seeking treatment

Earlier this month, Spacey apologised to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Spacey’s representatives later said he was seeking treatment

The #MeToo campaign was launched after a relentless series of accusations emerged by men and women who say they were victimised by high-powered figures in the entertainment industry.

Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Louis C.K. are among the most prominent names to have been accused.

PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL

St Paul’s Girls’ School is one of the most prestigious in the country and regularly tops exam leaderboards.

The fee per term for the academic year is £7,978 and £8,577 for new entrants to the senior school (Year 12).

In 2014, 99.3 per cent of GCSEs were graded at A*s or As with 93.6 per cent graded at A* alone. 

This was the highest ever A* percentage achieved by the school and in the country. 

In 2016, the school achieved the highest A Level results in its history with 60 per cent of entries achieving an A* grade and 93.8 per cent of entries achieving A* or A grades. 

Former pupils, called Old Paulinas, include Margaret Thatcher’s daughter, Carol, Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid and actress Rachel Weisz. 

Five women detailed sexual misconduct accusations against Emmy-winning comedian Louis C.K. in The New York Times on Thursday. 

He admitted to the misconduct alleged against him in a statement on Friday and apologised for his actions.

The New York Times reported in October that Weinstein, 65, had reached eight previously undisclosed settlements with women who accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact.

The New Yorker magazine reported that 13 women had claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them. Weinstein has denied all of the accusations against him.

Earlier this month, Spacey apologised to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Spacey’s representatives later said he was seeking treatment.

The allegations have inspired an online campaign, tagged #MeToo, that has encouraged men and women in all walks of life to reveal their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault, often years after they occurred.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk