SENIOR church figures have said they take the welfare of children in their schools “extremely seriously” after one of its top performing schools was at the centre of another sex allegation involving a teacher and a child.
As revealed exclusively by The Bolton News yesterday, a teacher at Canon Slade has been arrested on suspicion of “inciting sexual activity with a child”.
The Manchester Diocese says it is supporting the school.
It provides education for more than 50,000 children in 11 secondary schools — of which Canon Slade is one — and 180 primary schools and academies.
A spokesman for Manchester Diocese, said: “We have been informed that a teacher has been suspended from the school as a result of a police investigation.
“The Diocese of Manchester takes the welfare of pupils at its church schools extremely seriously. We will advise the governing body as it cooperates with the police enquiry and offer our support to the school, staff and pupils through this difficult time.”
The teacher, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is believed to have been arrested at a train station on Tuesday after the matter was reported to police.
He has been bailed until July 16 with conditions that he is not allowed to enter the school or contact pupils.
The arrest comes after Canon Slade teacher Andrew Welsh admitted a catalogue of sexual activity with a child last month.
He is awaiting sentence.
In April 2012, Canon Slade science teacher and father-of-two Andrew Ward was jailed for downloading more than 9,000 child porn images.
The school has sent a letter to parents outlining the situation saying the teacher is being investigated “for inappropriate communications with a pupil”.
In it is states the investigation focuses on an “isolated issue with one individual” and says there have been no other incidents reported by other pupils or staff.
Canon Slade School in Bradshaw was marked as outstanding by Ofsted and is one of Bolton’s and the country’s top performing schools for its GCSE results.
The school refused to comment on the allegations.
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