Justice for Henry
April 13th, 2008It has taken over three months, but the last of the verdicts in the two trials at Bristol Crown Court that arose from the dreadful events of January 11th 2007 at The Ridgeway School has now been delivered. Sentences will be passed within the next few weeks. The investigation by Wiltshire Police has been thorough and wide-ranging. Hundreds of witnesses were interviewed. DC Wilkinson and his team are to be thanked and praised for the success of Operation Dakota. I know that the end of the criminal trials has been a relief for Henry and his family, who have endured events with dignity and courage. Henry’s decision to give evidence in open Court rather than via the TV Link, which is his right, was a brave one indeed.
The media interest in the aftermath of the Trial has been considerable. The investigation that I conducted following a complaint from Mrs. Webster will now be re-convened at the earliest convenient opportunity. Governors are keen to conduct their own, wide-ranging review of events, now that we have the benefit of a wealth of evidence given in the criminal trial.
It is likely that civil proceedings will now follow. I think it is beneficial for all of us to try to put ourselves in the shoes of Henry and his family. By doing this, we gain a greater understanding of their situation. It is right to note that the School has made significant changes that are yielding improvements in behaviour and a more structured school day. As parents, we all want and expect our youngsters to be safe in school; at the same time, we don’t want to create a prison-like environment for them. The maintenance of this balance will not be easy, as the recent incursion by an Adver reporter has already shown.
The events of that day fifteen months ago were life-changing for Henry Webster. It is to be hoped that those responsible for his serious injuries will be punished appropriately. As Governors, it is up to us to ensure that the School’s place in the community is maintained and enhanced, and that all necessary changes will be made in order to further reduce the risk of another incident.
