School at centre of BBC investigation egged and windows smashed

The school at the centre of a BBC investigation appears to have been targeted by vandals.

Life Wirral is an independent secondary SEND school, based in Wallasey. It hit the headlines this week following an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama.

The investigation, which aired on television on Monday, entitled Cruelty in the Classroom, saw an undercover reporter sent into the school, posing as a work experience student.

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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.

The documentary and the behaviour of the school's staff towards pupils with special educational needs has caused outrage and this appears to have now resulted in the school itself being targeted.

Images taken today show the Wallasey school with egg residue splattered across its front door and windows. In the car park, one of the school's vans appears to have had its windows smashed, with broken glass strewn across the car park area.

The fall-out surrounding the BBC investigation has continued. Alastair Saverimutto, the school's CEO has seen his association with a local rugby club ended.

New Brighton Rugby Club said it was "disgusted by the content of the programme's findings" and said this does not represent the values of the club and would be cutting ties with Mr Saverimutto. Elsewhere, Vauxhall Motors FC has sacked one of its players after he was featured in the BBC documentary.

In an initial statement in response to the BBC programme, LIFE Wirral hit out at the corporation, 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.

Life Wirral has stood by these claims, but has since 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."

The BBC said in response: “The BBC takes issues of safeguarding and protection of vulnerable individuals extremely seriously and has strict editorial guidelines covering undercover investigations, secret recording and investigations involving children.

"Our investigation was firmly in the public interest and the welfare of the children concerned was our primary consideration. Our undercover reporter gathered evidence over a period of time so we could be confident that what she witnessed demonstrated a clear pattern of behaviour, involving multiple members of staff, and in line with the concerns that had been raised with us.

"Prior to our investigation, the local authority and the school were already aware of safeguarding concerns having previously been made by others, and despite the local authority investigating, this had not resulted in meaningful change."

"In contrast, when we told the local authority about the findings of our investigation, the placements at the school were suspended and new places are being found elsewhere for the children.”

Merseyside Police has also 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."

Life Wirral and Merseyside Police have been contacted over the vandalism at the school.

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