Four teachers at a boarding school in Lincolnshire have been prohibited from teaching after a series of disturbing incidents revealed a pattern of abuse and neglect during the 2020 lockdown.

Shocking Revelations at Build-a-Future

A deeply troubling picture has emerged from the former Build-a-Future boarding school following professional conduct hearings. The incidents involved a systematic pattern of unacceptable and harmful behavior by staff members entrusted with the care of vulnerable children.

Teachers Implicated in Abuse

Headteacher Adam Webb, deputy headteacher Alison Simmons, woodwork teacher Thomas Hayward, and tutor Matthew Oyitch were all found to have participated in a series of incidents ranging from reckless endangerment to outright abuse. The school catered to children with complex needs who could not access mainstream education.

Cruel and Dangerous 'Games'

Staff orchestrated bizarre and cruel ‘games’ that included throwing eggs and stones at pupils. Students were also encouraged to engage in dangerous stunts, such as climbing onto roofs via a cherry picker while being pelted with projectiles. Disturbingly, the carcasses of dead animals were used as playthings.

Evidence of Systemic Abuse

Evidence presented to the tribunals detailed a school environment lacking boundaries, where children were subjected to bullying, humiliation, and physical risk. Mr. Hayward engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a pupil, and teachers routinely used derogatory and offensive language, including racist slurs and ableist terms.

Safeguarding Failures and Cover-Ups

The panel determined that Mr. Webb’s conduct towards one pupil amounted to ‘borderline child cruelty’ due to consistent mocking and shaming. Ms. Simmons, the designated safeguarding officer, not only failed to protect the children but actively participated in abusive activities and attempted to cover up the events.

Hazardous School Environment

The school grounds themselves presented significant dangers, with daily bonfires fueled by aerosol cans thrown in for explosive effect. Pupils were encouraged to participate in these hazardous acts, fostering an atmosphere of unchecked power and disregard for student wellbeing.

Investigation and Aftermath

The scandal came to light after a whistleblower bravely submitted a dossier of evidence in January 2021, prompting a police investigation. While criminal proceedings were dropped, the professional misconduct hearings resulted in all four teachers being permanently barred from the profession.

The Build-a-Future school has since been sold. The West Ashby site is now a storage facility, while the East Heckington site continues to operate under new management, reportedly with significant improvements. This case underscores the critical importance of robust safeguarding measures and accountability within the independent school sector.