Former headteacher at St Anne's Catholic school accused of child abuse

James Edwin Rouse, 48, the former head at St Anne’s Catholic school and Sixth Form College, has been charged with sexual activity with a child in abusing his position of trust.

It comes as police are investigation allegations of people abusing their position of trust in 2006 at the school.

Four former teachers are also under investigation after allegations of previous child sexual abuse at St Anne’s Catholic school and Sixth Form College.

Rouse, of Lowford Hill Close in Southampton, will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on January 13. He was still headteacher at the school last year.

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Ofsted carried out an urgent inspection of the school in July this year to inspect safeguarding procedures at the school.

Inspector Christopher Steve said safeguarding is effective but noted "some pupils in the school do not feel confident in raising any concerns or worries they have with school staff". 

The school is set to take further action to work out why and ensure pupils feel confident in raising any worries they have.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “This follows a thorough and robust investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s specialist Operation Marmion team, who investigate allegations of non-recent sexual abuse perpetrated within institutions or by people of prominence.

“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to contact police on 101 where you can speak with a police officer in confidence referencing Op Stonecrop or by submitting information online by going to https://mipp.police.uk/operation/44HC23M03-PO1 quoting reference number 44230175402.

“Alternatively, anyone impacted by child sexual abuse can also contact Child Line on 0800 11 11, or if you are an adult who has been affected, you can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.”