Ampleforth college has appointed its former head of safeguarding, Deirdre Rowe, to Acting Head. She becomes the first woman to hold the position in over 200 years.
The trustees of the independent Catholic boarding school, which has been at the centre of a sexual abuse scandal, announced yesterday that the leadership of the school should revert to a lay-person. It said Ms Rowe, who takes over from current Headmaster, Fr Wulstan Peterburs, will balance academic standards with pastoral care and will focus on ensuring that the pupils are educated and empowered so that they know how to safeguard themselves.
A spokesperson for the school said that the changes in leadership are “not connected” to the recent report released by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which found appalling sexual abuse to have been inflicted over decades on children at Ampleforth and at Downside schools.
The changes are likewise unconnected to a letter sent to the school in May following an inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, which warned that if it did not improve standards, including the safeguarding of pupils and the rigour of its checks on staff, it could face possible closure. The school told the Tablet that it is now working with the Department for Education “on implementing agreed actions prior to re-inspection by the ISI in due course”.
Ampleforth appointed its first lay head, David Lambon, in September 2014 but he left after less than two years, and was replaced by Father Peterburs. The trustees announced in their 30 August statement that Fr Peterburs resigned to allow Ms Rowe to take up her post with immediate effect.
Ms Rowe, who held the role of Associate Head for five years, will “provide stability and continuity”, the statement says.
The trustees point out that Ms Rowe’s role will be “shaped around balancing the academic demands on the students with the pastoral care they need to thrive.”
It continues: “Having been the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for five years, Deirdre will continue to build on the robust policies and practice that have been put in place to ensure that student safeguarding and wellbeing is at the centre of College life.”
Alongside existing safeguarding structures, Ms Rowe will also focus on educating and empowering students “so that they know and understand how to safeguard themselves and that they deliver and expect the highest standards of behaviour from themselves and others”, the statement says.
The trustees also say that Ms Rowe is determined that the Benedictine character of Ampleforth “remains at the heart of the College”.
They state: “She [Ms Rowe] will be working closely with the chaplaincy team to ensure that the unique Benedictine experience of Ampleforth College continues to grow, offering students the opportunity to deepen their faith.”
In reaction to her appointment, Ms Rowe said: “I feel immensely privileged to be leading Ampleforth, the world’s leading Catholic educator, into a new era.”
She said she was dedicated to “ensuring that the students flourish and are happy and hardworking”. She continued: “When students feel good about themselves, they thrive academically and I see this as the priority of my work. I will be embracing my new position, with all the challenges it presents, with enthusiasm, energy and determination.”
The trustees have begun the process to appoint a permanent head and will announce an appointment as soon as it is made, according to the statement.
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