Sports club cuts ties with boss of Wirral school investigated by BBC

A Merseyside sports club has severed ties with the boss of a Wirral school at the centre of a BBC investigation.

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

Ms Hinde posed as a work experience student at the school, working with sports staff. Staff members were recorded making cruel and offensive remarks about pupils or appearing to put them in a headlock. In some cases, they are shown directly addressing students using homophobic and ableist language.

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Footage was also shown of Alastair Saverimutto, CEO at Life Wirral, which appeared to show him telling an undercover reporter he had used a police-style restraint on a child.

In a statement sent to the BBC, Mr Saverimutto said he “does not condone the behaviour revealed by the programme and five members of staff have been suspended”.

Now, a Merseyside rugby club that Mr Saverimutto - a former professional rugby player - has been associated with has announced that it has cut all ties with him following the investigation.

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.

A statement read: "The documentary properly highlighted significant safeguarding failures within the school facility. We want to assure our members, players, and the wider community that our upmost priority remains the wellbeing, trust, and development of our players and the integrity of New Brighton Rugby Club.

"We are dedicated to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our members. Rugby is a fantastic sport that not only promotes physical fitness but also teaches valuable life skills of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship. It has the unique ability to bring people together, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie that extends beyond the field.

"The friendships and connections made through rugby often last a lifetime, and the sport itself instils a spirit of perseverance and sportsmanship that benefits players in all aspects of their lives."

The statement added: "In response to the revelations identified within the documentary, the General Committee of New Brighton F.C (R.U) has severed all association with Alastair Saverimutto the CEO of Life Wirral with immediate effect.
This decision is in the best interest of our club members to ensure the continued safety and well-being of everyone involved."

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. The BBC has been contacted for a response to the school's claims.

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."

Responding, the corporation said: “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."

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