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19
May 2023
'Improved climate' at Harrogate Army Foundation College after abuse allegations, says minister
Harrogate’s Army Foundation College has a “much improved climate” after allegations of abuse and sexual assault, a government minister has said.
Baroness Goldie, a Ministry of Defence minister, told the House of Lords the college had taken steps to improve and that this was reflected by an Ofsted report in 2021.
It comes after the college on Penny Pot Lane, which trains junior soldiers aged 16 and 17, was hit by allegations of abuse and bullying in 2021.
In February, former instructor Simon Bartram was found guilty of disgraceful conduct and sexual assault over a nine-month period between 2020 and 2021.
Meanwhile, Corporal Kimberley Hey was demoted in rank in November 2021 after being convicted of punching teenage soldiers at the college.
This past week, Lord Browne of Ladyton, a former minister in the MOD under the last Labour government, asked Baroness Goldie what steps the government had taken to improve the inspection of welfare and safeguarding at the college.
Lord Browne pointed out the college itself had recorded 72 complaints of violence by staff between 2014 and 2023, of which 13 cases had been proven.
He said:
Baroness Goldie described the incidents as “profoundly regrettable and utterly unacceptable”.
Read more:
- Parents call for Harrogate army college to be closed after abuse claims
- Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor demoted for punching teenage soldiers
- Former Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor sentenced for sex assault
However, she added the college had learned from the incidents and “introduced important changes” which were reflected in an Ofsted report in 2021.
Baroness Goldie said the MOD had also introduced new policies to deal with sexual offences, which had helped to improve the situation at the college.
She said:
Referring to Bartram, she confirmed the former instructor had been dismissed from the armed forces and added the government had taken “significant steps” to prevent similar incidents happening again.
She said:
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