Former headteacher at Bristol secondary school named on Sex Offender Register

A former headteacher has been put on the Sex Offenders Register after admitting attempted sexual communication with a child.

Matthew Bennett, who worked at Clifton High School in Bristol, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and will remain on the register for five years.

Bennett was charged in 2023, but parents were only told by school governors this month after restrictions on publication were lifted.

Upon learning of Bennett’s arrest, the school said it followed its safeguarding procedures, which included restricting Bennett’s access to the school and pupils.

The details of Bennett’s attempted sexual communication are not publicly available at this time, but the fact Bennett held a position of trust is concerning.

As headteacher of a secondary school, Bennett’s position of trust included a duty of care towards his staff and students to protect them from harm. A headteacher would know sexual communications with someone under the age of 18 is never justified and will always be unsafe for that young person.

If you, or someone you know, has experienced abuse or has concerns abuse is occurring, you can always report this.

At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we represent survivors of abuse, including abuse by teachers and within education settings, in bringing civil compensation claims. These claims can offer recognition of the harm suffered, provide funding for treatment and recovery, and hold institutions accountable for the failures in their duty of care.

We are dedicated to offering free, no-obligation advice about your rights and if you want to discuss your situation you can contact Elise Carnot on elisecarnot@bbkllp.co.uk confidentially.