Darren Turk child sexual abuse Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex

The request was partially successful.

Dear East Sussex County Council,

Please could you answer my questions under the FOI Act?

Did Frewen School come under the responsibility of East Sussex County council at the time of the offences?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sus...
How many children were thought to be abused by Turk?
When was Turk employed by the Council and for what period was he at the school?
Please send me any inspection reports for this time?

Yours faithfully,

Cathy Fox

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

Dear Ms. Fox,

 

FOI Request ref:  7332 / Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 16/06/2016 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 14/07/2016, which is the 20 working day deadline. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

 

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we proceed in dealing with your request.

 

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [email address]       Web:
www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

         

 

 

show quoted sections

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

 

 

Dear Ms Fox

 

FOI Request ref: 7332 / Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above, which has been
dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your
request and our response are set out below. Please note that any
information we provide is subject to the copyright and reuse of
information terms and conditions set out at the bottom of this email.

 

REQUEST

 

Did Frewen School come under the responsibility of East Sussex County
council at the time of the offences?

[1]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sus...

How many children  were thought  to be abused by Turk?

When was Turk employed by the Council and for what period was he at the
school?

Please send me any inspection reports for this time?

 

RESPONSE

 

Frewen College is an independent special school not an East Sussex School.
Inspection reports are publicly available via the Ofsted website.

 

I hope that this answers your enquiry. If you believe that the County
Council has not complied with the FOI Act in responding to your request,
you may ask for an internal review. If you wish to do so, please set out
the grounds of your appeal in writing to:

 

Philip Baker, Assistant Chief Executive, East Sussex County Council,
County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex. BN7 1UE.

or by email to him at [2][email address]

 

Please quote the FOI reference number in any communication regarding this
particular request.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you then
have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision
unless you have exhausted the County Council’s internal review procedure
as described in the previous paragraph. The Commissioner can be contacted
at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Tel: 0303 123 1113.  [3]www.ico.org.uk

 

Kind regards

 

Amilia Holland

Customer Information Adviser

 

East Sussex County Council

Communities, Economy and Transport

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [4][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [5]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P    please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

 

 

 

Copyright and Re-Use of information

1. Providing you with documents under the Freedom of Information Act does
not give you an automatic right to re-use those documents in a way that
would infringe copyright – for example by making multiple copies, or by
publishing / issuing copies to the public.

2. Copyright in the information is owned by East Sussex County Council
and/or its contractor(s) unless otherwise stated. Brief extracts of the
material can be reproduced under the “fair dealing” provisions of the
Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988 (S.29 and S.30) for the purposes of
research for non-commercial purposes, private study, criticism, review and
news reporting.

3. We do not give permission for this information to be used for the
purposes of direct marketing.

4. If you wish to use this information then, in accordance with the
Regulations on the Re-use of Public Sector Information 2015, you must
first ask our permission. Such re-use may or may not involve the granting
of a licence and the application of a Fee.

 

 

 

 

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sus...
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.org.uk/
4. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
5. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Dear East Sussex County Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. FOI Request ref: 7332

I am writing to request an internal review of East Sussex County Council's handling of my FOI request 'Darren Turk child sexual abuse Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex'.

Since I made the FOI Request I have received information that the were 2 inspection reports by East Sussex County Council for March 2000 and January 2002 the inspectors names were Diane Gale & Phil Hale.
This appears to indicate that the Council did have some responsibility for the school and in light of this
I would be grateful if you could reconsider the whole request
"Did Frewen School come under the responsibility of East Sussex County
council at the time of the offences?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sus...
How many children were thought to be abused by Turk?
When was Turk employed by the Council and for what period was he at the
school?
Please send me any inspection reports for this time?"

I would be grateful if you could also state whether the County has any responsibility for Independent schools today in the County, or if there is abuse at a School in the County which body apart from the school may be held responsible.
Could you also say when the Countys responsibilityfor inspection passed to National care standards commission.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/d...

Yours faithfully,

Cathy Fox

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

 

 

Dear Ms Fox

 

FOI Request ref:  7332 / Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex

 

Thank you for your application for an internal review of the way we have
handled your request for information on the above. Your request for a
review was received on 6/7/2016 and I am dealing with it under the terms
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 3/8/2016, which is the 20 working day deadline. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Jeremy Coleman

Customer Information Officer

 

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [1][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P  please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

 

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

4 Attachments

Dear Ms. Fox

 

FOI Request ref:  7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 06/07/2016 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 03/08/2016, which is the 20 working day deadline. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

 

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we proceed in dealing with your request.

 

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [1][email address]       Web:
[2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

[3]cid:image001.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [4]cid:image002.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [5]cid:image003.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [6]cid:image004.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20

 

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/
3. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/default.htm
4. https://www.facebook.com/EastSussexHighw...
5. https://twitter.com/esccroads
6. https://www.youtube.com/user/EastSussexC...

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

4 Attachments

Dear Ms. Fox,

 

FOI Request ref:  7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 06/07/2016 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, but we do need you to
clarify your request before we will be able to process it.

 

Children’s Services have interpreted your questions as follows:

1.    Does East Sussex County Council have any responsibility for
Independent schools within the County?

2.    If there is abuse at a School in the County which body apart from
the school may be held responsible?

3.    When did the East Sussex County Council’s responsibility for
inspection pass to National Care Standards Commission?

 

Please can you confirm that you are happy with this interpretation.

 

Please can you also confirm what sort of inspection you refer to in Q3. 
Is this an inspection of the education provision? Or a social care or
safeguarding inspection?

 

 Your request is on hold pending receipt of your clarification. Please
quote the above reference number in any communication regarding this
request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [1][email address]       Web:
[2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

[3]cid:image001.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [4]cid:image002.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [5]cid:image003.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [6]cid:image004.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20

 

From: Freedom of Information
Sent: 11 July 2016 11:16
To: '[FOI #340409 email]'
Subject: FOI Request ref: 7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent
Schools

 

Dear Ms. Fox

 

FOI Request ref:  7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 06/07/2016 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 03/08/2016, which is the 20 working day deadline. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

 

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we proceed in dealing with your request.

 

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [7][email address]       Web:
[8]www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

[9]cid:image001.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [10]cid:image002.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [11]cid:image003.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [12]cid:image004.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20

 

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/
3. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/default.htm
4. https://www.facebook.com/EastSussexHighw...
5. https://twitter.com/esccroads
6. https://www.youtube.com/user/EastSussexC...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/
9. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/default.htm
10. https://www.facebook.com/EastSussexHighw...
11. https://twitter.com/esccroads
12. https://www.youtube.com/user/EastSussexC...

Dear Freedom of Information,

FOI Request ref: 7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools
I am hapy with your interpretation of the requests.

I am unsure from the information I have available the as to the confirmation you require, so it is best if you could cover both angles.
Please can you also confirm what sort of inspection you refer to in Q3.
Is this an inspection of the education provision? Or a social care or
safeguarding inspection?

Yours sincerely,

Cathy Fox

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

Dear Ms. Fox,

 

FOI Request ref:  7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools

 

I have noted that you are happy with the interpretation Children’s
Services have made of your questions, however please can you provide
clarity on the rest of your previous email. It is not clear to me what you
are asking.

 

Your request remains on hold pending this clarification. Please quote the
above reference number in any communication regarding this  request.

 

Kind regards

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [email address]       Web:
www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

         

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear Freedom of Information,
Sorry, I have tried to make it clearer.

FOI Request ref: 7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools
I am happy with your interpretation of the requests.

As regards question 3, which was "When did the East Sussex County Council’s responsibility for
inspection pass to National Care Standards Commission?"

You asked "Please can you also confirm what sort of inspection you refer to in Q3.
Is this an inspection of the education provision? Or a social care or
safeguarding inspection?"

I cannot confirm, from the information I have, which type of inspection it was, so if you could look at all the the education provision, social care and safeguarding inspections, to find the type that did change from Council responsibility to NCSC

Yours sincerely,

Cathy Fox

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

Dear Ms. Fox,

 

FOI Request ref: 7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your clarified
request was received on 13/07/2016 and I am dealing with it under the
terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 04/08/2016, which is the amended 20 working day deadline,
taking into account the period on hold awaiting your clarification. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

 

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [email address]       Web:
www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

         

 

show quoted sections

lucy Moore left an annotation ()

Social Care inspection. These were carried out every year.

lucy Moore left an annotation ()

There was also an" independent inspection" carried out by two independent inspectors from Kent C.C. At the request I believe of E.Sussex Council due to complaints re the inspections. These reports should be in the School records.

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

 

 

Dear Ms Fox

 

FOI Request ref: 7332 / Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex

 

Further to our email of 6/7/2016, I am writing to update you on your
internal review. Unfortunately Legal Services have informed me that there
will be a slight delay in providing you with a response. They have
confirmed that it will be sent to you by 10/8/2016. Please accept my
apologies for this delay.

 

Kind regards

 

Amilia Holland

Customer Information Adviser

 

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

[mobile number]

Fax: 01273 481208

 

 

 

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

Freedom of Information, East Sussex County Council

6 Attachments

Dear Ms. Fox,

 

FOI Request ref: 7453 / ESCC Responsibility for Independent Schools

 

Thank you for your request for information about the above, which has been
dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your
request and our response are set out below. Please note that any
information we provide is subject to the copyright and reuse of
information terms and conditions set out at the bottom of this email.

 

 

REQUEST

 

1.    Does East Sussex County Council have any responsibility for
Independent schools within the County?

2.    If there is abuse at a School in the County which body apart from
the school may be held responsible?

3.    When did the East Sussex County Council’s responsibility for
inspection pass to National Care Standards Commission?

 

 

 

RESPONSE

 

Please find response attached

 

 

I hope that this answers your enquiry. If you believe that the County
Council has not complied with the FOI Act in responding to your request,
you may ask for an internal review. If you wish to do so, please set out
the grounds of your appeal in writing to:

 

Philip Baker, Assistant Chief Executive, East Sussex County Council,
County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex. BN7 1UE.

or by email to him at [1][email address]

 

Please quote the FOI reference number in any communication regarding this
particular request.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you then
have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision
unless you have exhausted the County Council’s internal review procedure
as described in the previous paragraph. The Commissioner can be contacted
at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Tel: 0303 123 1113.  [2]www.ico.org.uk

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Rebecca Harper

Customer Information Advisor

Communities, Economy & Transport | East Sussex County Council

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE

 

Phone: 01273 482913

Fax: 01273 481208

Email: [3][email address]       Web:
[4]www.eastsussex.gov.uk

 

[5]cid:image001.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [6]cid:image002.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [7]cid:image003.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20 
 [8]cid:image004.jpg@01D05B45.FA37DB20

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.ico.org.uk/
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/
5. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/default.htm
6. https://www.facebook.com/EastSussexHighw...
7. https://twitter.com/esccroads
8. https://www.youtube.com/user/EastSussexC...

lucy Moore left an annotation ()

Frewen College had inspections by Ofsted which was education based and entirely separate from the Care Inspections. The Care inspections left a lot to be desired and a whole lot of various questions arose, re the effectiveness. Hence eventually the so called independent inspection by Kent. Many meetings, letters were circulated, these should be documented. This mainly was due to Darren Turk continuing in employment as Head of Care after the first police investigation. It might also be useful to view all The Governors Meetings records, during Darren Turks employment. Again the inspectors met with the School Governors on occasions other than the actual inspections.

lucy Moore left an annotation ()

just to confirm I have posted an e mail to Cathy Fox, Cathy please acknowledge if you receive this. Lucy Moore

Oliver Smith, East Sussex County Council

4 Attachments

Dear Ms Fox,

 

Please see attached response relating to your FOI internal review request.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Oliver Smith | Legal Officer | East Sussex County Council

Telephone: 01273 481633 | [mobile number]

Email: [1][email address]

Address: PO Box 2714, County Hall, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE
DX 97482 Lewes 3

 

[2]cid:image001.jpg@01D19F02.EC408F60

 

The Legal Services of Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County
Council,

Surrey County Council and West Sussex County Council working in
partnership

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

lucy Moore left an annotation ()

Frewen College is a private School, it does however have pupils paid by LEA s It had Care inspections between 1997 to 2002 by East Sussex, re the care and welfare of the pupils whilst boarding,this was totally different from Ofsted Inspection, nothing to do with education more about health, bed situations toilets provided, showers meals, activities,welfare. Interviews with care staff Matrons and local GP . HeadMaster. There are reports re these inspections, parents of children boarding and school staff had access to see these They were made available at the time.