Nigel Kennedy's former music school facing more sex abuse claims from past pupils

Nigel Kennedy’s former music school is facing sex abuse claims from 14 former pupils.

The elite £45,000-a-year Yehudi Menuhin School, in Surrey, Greater London, boasts alumni including the renowned violinists, Nigel Kennedy and Nicola Benedetti.

It has already faced historic allegations concerning its staff, however, it is now facing fresh allegations of sexual, emotional and physical abuse.

The claims are being raised against 15 members of staff of the exclusive music school for incidents occurring between 1964 and 2007.

They also form the latest in a series of revelations concerning allegations of abuse at the school.

In 2003, famous alumni Nigel Kennedy, one of the world's most recognised classical musicians, revealed that in his time at the Yehudi Menuhin School young female pupils had been sexually abused by teachers. He was a student there from 1964 to 1974.

Similar claims were also reported in a Channel 4 documentary in 2013 which promoted a police investigation into historical child abuse against its founder, the pianist, Marcel Gazelle.

In June 2019 the school was issued a notice to improve from the Department for Education (DfE), citing "serious regulatory failings" related to safeguarding following an Ofsted inspection in May.

The DfE removed the regulatory action in November 2019.

Also in 2019, the school was investigated by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) along with three other music schools, the Purcell, Chetham’s and Wells Cathedral School.

The Inquiry’s report, published in March 2022, detailed allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of music teachers and failure to properly safeguard students and share information.

Time for school to 'face up to its past'

Malcolm Johnson, the head of Lime Solicitors’ abuse department representing the 14 former pupils, said:  “It’s time for the Yehudi Menuhin School to face up to its past.

“Only by doing so can it safeguard pupils in the present and the future. This is a school to which parents entrusted their children, in the belief that their musical ability would be nurtured and advanced.

“Sadly, the abuse that these children suffered, has blighted their lives and their musical careers. We have invited the school to reach out to us and deal with these allegations as soon as possible.”  

A spokesperson for Yehudi Menuhin School said: “The school takes any allegation of this nature extremely seriously, and these claims are being dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Since they are currently the subject of legal proceedings, however, we are unable to comment on them in any detail at the moment.”