IICSA Rochdale Hearing 19 October 2017 (+44)207 4041400 London
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IICSA Rochdale Hearing 19 October 2017 1 Thursday, 19 October 2017 1 Q. For them, you went on to open a further 19 schools? 2 (10.30 am) 2 A. That's correct. 3 THE CHAIR: Good morning, Ms Dobbin. 3 Q. Were those schools that catered for children -- 4 MS DOBBIN: Good morning, chair. Chair, you are going to 4 A. There was a cross-section. There were some day schools, 5 hear evidence this morning from Mr Stephen Bradshaw, who 5 some residential and some 52-week. 6 came to give evidence yesterday but has kindly returned 6 Q. Were those schools for children that had those 7 in order that he can give it today. You are also going 7 specialist needs? 8 to hear evidence from Dr Hodge and Mr Paul Rowen. There 8 A. Yes, with all special education needs. 9 was a witness who was due to give evidence yesterday, 9 Q. I think, after that, you went on to hold a number of 10 Mr Shepherd, and we very much hope that his evidence 10 executive roles. Were you the chairman of 11 will be rescheduled next week. 11 the Options Group? 12 THE CHAIR: Thank you. 12 A. I was, yes. 13 MR STEPHEN WALLACE BRADSHAW (sworn) 13 Q. Again, does that provide care and education for 14 Examination by MS DOBBIN 14 children -- 15 MS DOBBIN: Mr Bradshaw, can I ask you to give your full 15 A. Yes, that is 12 schools and colleges. 16 name to the panel? 16 Q. After that, did you become the managing director of 17 A. Stephen Wallace Bradshaw. 17 the Cambrian Group in 2014? 18 Q. Mr Bradshaw, were you the headmaster of Knowl View 18 A. Cambrian, yes. It is the Cambrian Group, but, yes, 19 School between 8 April 1991 and July 1994? 19 I did. 20 A. Yes. 20 Q. Again, was that a similar thing, that it provided -- 21 Q. Prior to that, had you been the deputy head at another 21 A. Yes. 22 residential school, Clarence House? 22 Q. -- specialist -- 23 A. That's correct. 23 A. I started there. There were nine schools and, when 24 Q. Was Clarence House in the Wirral, just outside 24 I left, there were 38. 25 Liverpool? 25 Q. I think your current role is that you're the chief Page 1 Page 3 1 A. It is in Formby, North Liverpool. 1 executive officer of the Aurora Group? 2 Q. Was that another school for children who had emotional 2 A. Yes. 3 and behavioural -- 3 Q. Again, is that a specialist provider of education -- 4 A. It was exactly the same setup as Knowl View. 4 A. It is. We have 13 schools and colleges. 5 Q. When you left Knowl View School, did you take up another 5 Q. I think the terminology has changed, hasn't it? 6 head teacher's post outside of Bath? 6 A. Yes, it has. 7 A. Yes, I did. 7 Q. These days, they would be described as schools for 8 Q. Did you go on to open three schools yourself? 8 children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs? 9 A. Yes. In 1994, I started Farleigh College. I did 9 A. That's correct. 10 North Hill House and Farleigh College sixth form. 10 Q. Although that terminology has changed -- 11 Q. Again, were those schools for children who had -- 11 A. It is the same type of youngsters. 12 A. They were slightly different. 12 Q. It is the same sort of child you are caring for -- 13 Q. -- emotional and behavioural needs? 13 A. Yes, it is. 14 A. They were for children with Asperger's syndrome, as 14 Q. -- as you would have been caring for at Knowl View 15 opposed to what we now regard as SEMH, which is social, 15 School. I might ask you later on to reflect on Knowl 16 emotional and mental health. It is the same category 16 View School, having regard to all the experience that 17 now. 17 you have had since. But just for the moment, I want to 18 Q. Were those residential schools? 18 focus on what you knew at the time -- 19 A. Yes, they were all residential. 19 A. Okay. 20 Q. Thank you. I think it is right that you sold the 20 Q. -- whenever you went to Knowl View School. 21 schools that you had started to the Priory Group? 21 I think, when you arrived, you came with your wife 22 A. Yes. 22 and two small children; is that right? 23 Q. You then went to work for the Priory Group as a managing 23 A. Yes. Emily was 5 and Edward was just 12 months. 24 director? 24 Q. Did you move into the headmaster's house -- 25 A. Yes. 25 A. Yes, it was the commission of the post. It was Page 2 Page 4 1 (Pages 1 to 4) DTI www.DTIGlobal.com 8th Floor, 165 Fleet Street (+44)207 4041400 London EC4A 2DY IICSA Rochdale Hearing 19 October 2017 1 a residential post, so we moved into the first corner, 1 A. Nothing. 2 which was the residential head's house. 2 Q. As regards the Hilton incident, were you told the full 3 Q. When you arrived, had numbers at the school dwindled? 3 extent of what had happened in September 1990? 4 A. Yes, I think when I arrived there were something like 16 4 A. No, it was more anecdotal from the staff. I was made 5 out of 40 places. 5 aware by the local authority that he'd been charged and 6 Q. Did you understand that that was because the educational 6 actually was serving a prison sentence in there and it 7 psychologist at Rochdale had stopped sending children 7 was a one-off incident that had happened where the 8 there? 8 youngsters actually let him in. But that's all I was 9 A. Yes. Richard Flammer was also the placement officer. 9 aware of. Obviously, with having two very small 10 Often in local authorities you have two people. One is 10 children on site and a wife that was very nervous about 11 the principal education psychologist who does the 11 sort of them being anywhere near, we were keen to know 12 reports and then someone who decides where they're 12 what the issues were. There was very little passed on. 13 placed based on those reports. In Rochdale, it was the 13 Q. Were you aware from the outset that it was actually 14 same person, Richard Flammer, and he was using other 14 a group of children that had been involved in the Hilton 15 schools outside the borough. I mean, I knew that as 15 incident as opposed to just one? 16 a fact because he was placing children in 16 A. Yes, I was. 17 Clarence House, when I was there, from Rochdale. 17 Q. Did anyone suggest to you that there might have been 18 Q. That's exactly what I was going to ask you. 18 more to it -- 19 A. Sorry. 19 A. No. 20 Q. Did you know why he was sending children to your school 20 Q. -- than just one child being sexually assaulted? 21 as opposed to -- 21 A. No. 22 A. You need to ask Richard that, but my summation is he 22 Q. Was that something that you came to work out later? 23 felt the quality of education and care at Knowl View was 23 A. Yes, later on. 24 substandard. 24 Q. Were you told that he'd actually previously been 25 Q. Before you went to Knowl View School, did you know of 25 convicted in 1984 -- Page 5 Page 7 1 its reputation? 1 A. No, I wasn't. 2 A. No, I was interviewed in February and it was my first 2 Q. -- in respect of sexual offences on two other Knowl View 3 headship. I'd been a deputy for three years. So I was 3 children? 4 keen to get headship. It is one of those things, you 4 A. No. I know you will come to it, but we were very 5 never actually take a school as perfect. So I wasn't 5 nervous about this individual and I liaised with the 6 aware of the reputation until the first meeting I had, 6 police when he was being released, because obviously he 7 which was after my appointment. 7 was attracted to the school, and he did come back to the 8 Q. How candid had Rochdale Borough Council been with you 8 school. You've probably seen from the documentation 9 about the sort of difficulties that the school was 9 that we were very keen -- the police were excellent at 10 facing? 10 the time, but he'd actually sort of pitched his tent 11 A. Well, the answer is, not very. I think it was 11 just over the fence from Knowl View, and we could see 12 a difficult situation, because I don't think they knew 12 him. You know, I contacted the police straight away. 13 what they didn't know. They hadn't discovered the whole 13 I really wanted to have an enforcement order to keep him 14 piece of it. What was explained to me was that they had 14 away from the school.