Prestigious music school treated reputation as ‘more important than sex abuse victims’, says damning report

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A prestigious Manchester music school has been criticised in a damning report which found "reputation was more important" than investigating sexual abuse allegations.

Chetham's School of Music was one of several schools criticised in a new report into child sexual abuse. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse looked at residential music schools including Chetham's and special schools, including the Royal School Manchester. READ MORE: £20 notes found stuffed into toaster after police storm homes across Manchester The inquiry found that boarding schools were the “ideal environment for grooming”, with pupils being more dependent on adults around them than in non-residential settings.

The report said: “In the specialist music schools examined, the power and influence of often revered and influential music teachers made some pupils even more vulnerable to being sexually abused by them. “The reputations of both the musicians and the schools were often seen as more important than their victims and potential victims when allegations were made or concerns were raised. “The response was similar when concerns were raised about well-liked and generally respected members of staff in other school contexts, in both the independent and state sectors.” The inquiry heard how Chetham's former director of music Michael Brewer was “a powerful figure, having complete autonomy over all matters relating to music”.

He was jailed for six years in 2013 for sexually abusing former pupil Frances Andrade, who killed herself after giving evidence at his trial at Manchester Crown Court.