Guernsey's Elizabeth College to investigate allegations of historical abuse

Tuesday, 14 April 2026 07:50

School says allegations date back to the 70s and 80s and it takes its safeguarding responsibility 'extremely seriously.'

The school issued a statement last night (13 April) saying it had been contacted by former pupils alleging abuse dating back to the 1970s and 80s, but it gives no detail about what that may have involved.

The College has appointed safeguarding expert Joanna Nicolas to head a review into these allegations. She has 30 years experience in this area.

John Roche, the chair of the Board of Governors, says anyone affected will be able to disclose what happened to them and it will enable the College to learn lessons from the past.

“The College takes its duty to safeguard its pupils extremely seriously and the welfare of the child will always be paramount, which is why the College has commissioned this review.

"Safeguarding practice has evolved and improved significantly over recent decades, but nonetheless it is important that we understand and learn from our past.

"To this end, we have appointed Joanna Nicolas to undertake a review for the Board of disclosures of non-recent abuse from decades past, providing a confidential channel through which anyone negatively impacted by their experiences can be listened to and heard.”

The College says its current safeguarding measures were inspected and approved by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in November 2025.

Guernsey Police are aware of the review, and say anyone who wants to report anything can contact them.

The Multi Agency Support Hub (MASH) in Guernsey is also able to help anyone with immediate concerns.

Guernsey's Elizabeth College to investigate allegations of historical abuse

More from Guernsey News

Comments