Police investigate Wirral school at centre of BBC documentary

Merseyside Police has responded to a BBC investigation into a Wirral school which included shocking footage of staff appearing to mock and abuse children with special educational needs.

The Panorama documentary Undercover School: Cruelty in the Classroom was broadcast yesterday evening on BBC1. In the documentary, a BBC reporter went undercover at Life Wirral, an independent secondary school in Wallasey, for seven weeks.

Wirral Council was reportedly warned about problems at the sports school early last year, and told the BBC it had investigated but that most parents and children gave "positive reports" about the school. However, a year on, whistleblowers told the documentary makers they still had "serious concerns" about the establishment.

Warning: parts of this story contain offensive language

READ MORE: The 'cult-like' Liverpool schools where kids are 'making themselves ill' to avoid going in

READ MORE: 'Haunted' mansion was left to decay but it could come 'back to life'

The BBC sent in undercover reporter Sasha Hinde, who posed as a work experience student at the school, working with sports staff. Staff members were recorded making cruel and offensive remarks about pupils. In some cases, they are shown directly addressing students using homophobic and ableist language.

In the documentary, the school's mental wellbeing coach appears to be heard saying, "these kids are so f**king thick" and "it's a school of retards". He also called a child with dyspraxia a “flid”.

Head of operations Paul Hamill was filmed saying of one pupil, "He deserves to sit in a padded cell on his own for the rest of his life. Horrible little t**t." He was shown telling the BBC reporter he had once fantasised about drowning the pupil in a bath “like a kitten”. He said: “Just the thought of squeezing him while he’s scratching me arms, trying to wriggle out."

In an initial statement, LIFE Wirral hit out at the BBC, accusing it of acting in a "highly irresponsible manner" and "putting the interests of a television programme ahead of the interests of vulnerable children".

The school accused the undercover reporter of "failing in her basic safeguarding duties to report significant concerns", claiming her actions put more vulnerable children at risk for longer. The BBC has been contacted for a response to the school's claims.

Life Wirral has stood by these claims, but has now added to its original statement to offer its apologies to any students and families affected by the behaviour of staff highlighted in the Panorama programme.

A spokesperson said: “LIFE Wirral do not condone the behaviour of a small proportion of staff whose actions were aired on last night’s BBC Panorama programme. We are deeply concerned about our students and their families and would like to apologise to all those affected."

Today Merseyside Police has responded to the BBC investigation. A spokesperson for the force said: "We are aware of video footage recorded by an undercover BBC journalist at a school in Wirral.

"We are currently investigating the matter and are in contact with the BBC, the school, the local authority and concerned parents.

"As an investigation is underway it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here