Headmaster angry at exchange vetting procedure

Nov 2 2009 by Tom Mullen, The Journal

THE headmaster of one of the North East’s most prestigious schools has hit out at “ludicrous” new vetting guidelines that meant a visiting hockey team were not allowed to stay with his pupils’ families.

Dr Bernard Trafford, headmaster of Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School, spoke out amid plans to have all adults involved in exchange programme-style events checked to make sure they are not potential abusers.

A hockey team of 13-year-old girls almost had to pull out of a visit to the RGS because the families the girls had arranged to stay with had not been vetted.

Despite Dr Trafford having met the families concerned and his assurances there was no cause for concern, the Midlands-based school felt forced to arrange bed and breakfast accommodation for the team for fear of breaching the rules. Last night Dr Trafford said the draconian measures from the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) were unnecessary and damaging.

He said: “Ask any headteacher and they will tell you it’s bureaucracy gone mad. The loss of trust in decent, law-abiding adults is a huge worry, and we resent being the agency of this.