GOVERNORS have commissioned a law lord to hold an inquiry after independent inspectors found flaws in child protection allowing a priest to abuse boys at a private school.
Lord Carlile QC, best known as the government's independent reviewer of counter-terrorism laws, has been called in by St Benedicts School, in Eaton Rise, Ealing, which has close links with Ealing Abbey.
It comes after a report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). Inspectors made a special visits in April and May after being informed of past allegations of abuse involving six former teachers or trustees.
They include paedophile priest David Pearce who was convicted in October after admitting 10 indecent assaults and one sexual assault between 1972 and 2007.
The former teacher at the school managed to abuse one of his victims while placed on restricted duties at the abbey after he lost a civil case against another victim.
The ISI inspectors said: "The school had not made all necessary referrals directly to the appropriate authorities and the use of restrictive conditions is not altogether convincing, since the restrictions were not adequate in the case of fr DP (David Pearce)."
They said there were shortcomings in the child safeguarding policy and added: "St Benedict's rule of love and forgiveness appears on occasion to have overshadowed responsibility for children's welfare, as in the case of fr DP."
Jonathan West, whose son attended the school but was fortunately unharmed, and who remains concerned about child protection at the school, welcomed the ISI investigation.
He said: "I'm very pleased the ISI has investigated and I hope it will lead to substantial improvements in child protection. The school should have put its house in order years ago. It's a pity it's taken publicity in the press to persuade them to move."
The ISI investigation follows a similar critical report by the Charity Commission into the abbey in December.
Abbot Martin Shipperlee, chairman of governors at St Benedict's, said: "We met with the ISI last week and they're now satisfied our policy is compliant as are the Department of Education.
"But we want to go further than just being told procedures are acceptable. That's why we've commissioned Lord Carlile to act in complete independence so we can do our best to ensure there are no future mistakes and make sure anything that can be done to protect children is done."
