MoD stops funding new Clifton College places

The Ministry of Defence has stopped funding new applications to Clifton College, after a former teacher was jailed for recording indecent images of children on cameras hidden inside the boarding school.

Jonathan Thomson-Glover, 53, a former German teacher and housemaster, pleaded guilty last year to 36 charges of making, taking and possessing indecent images of more than 120 pupils. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.

The college, which charges around £30,000 a year for boarders, has a number of pupils from an armed forces background.

While the MoD said it would continue to fund existing places, it has temporarily stopped funding new applications to the college. There are currently 31 children attending Clifton College who are funded by the MoD.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Following advice from the Department for Education, the Ministry of Defence temporarily ceased the payment of continuity of education allowances to Armed Forces personnel making initial applications for places at Clifton College.

An inspection of the school by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is expected shortly and the MoD said it “will review its position” following publication of the report. 

In a statement Clifton College said it “has a proud tradition of supporting armed forces families”.

“The MoD has continued to provide the Continuity of Education Allowance for existing pupils throughout this period.

“The ISI have carried out their inspection and we are awaiting the publication of their report. Should the outcome prove positive, we understand the MOD will review their position with a view to reinstating the allowance for new families who wish to join the college.”

Police found more than 300 video tapes made by former teacher Jonathan Thomson-Glover

The MOD took the decision after the court case, although the court found there was no evidence the footage was shared or that Thomson-Glover behaved “improperly” to any child.

Following an “emergency” ISI inspection last July, at the request of the Department for Education, inspectors found that although “pupils, including boarders, reported in interview that they are happy in school,” the school had not met national standards in a number of safeguarding areas, including suitability of staff and the quality and leadership at the school.

The Department for Education subsequently required a progress monitoring visit, which took place at the end of last month. The report is expected to be published within four to six weeks.

The headmaster of the school Mark Moore stepped down last October, saying it was time to “explore other opportunities”.

Jonathan Thomson-Glover set up cameras to record children on the toilet and showering

After the case Clifton College said it was “shocked and appalled” at the findings…which amount to an “unforgivable breach of trust”.

The spokesman added that it had “taken considerable steps to ensure…nothing like this can ever happen again.”

“As part of this we have carried out a series of specific reviews, including an external review of safeguarding and related polices; and a review of our IT systems.

“We have also carried out physical searches of college buildings and no hidden cameras were found fixed to college property.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of our pupils… if there are any further lessons to be learned, we will learn them.”

During the trial the court was told police found more than 300 VHS tapes, which included more than 2,500 hours of covert video footage.

The prosecution claimed the material involved more than 130 young victims.