New child abuse report at disgraced Berrow Wood School
A new police investigation into the disgraced Berrow Wood School has been launched after fresh allegations of abuse by more than a dozen staff members.
Berrow Wood School was a former residential institution on the Worcestershire – Gloucestershire border for boys with troubled backgrounds. Children from around the country were placed there by local authorities across England in the hope they would receive an education and care. Instead, the institution became the site of systematic physical and sexual abuse.
Nine teachers and staff were found to have been physically and sexually abusing pupils between 1968 and 1991, including headteacher Ron Morris, co-owner Alan Gorton, and housemaster Philip Gray.
The most recent members of staff jailed were Keith Figes and Maurice Lambell in 2023.
West Mercia Police is now examining new reports concerning at least 14 former staff, several of whom are still alive.
Berrow Wood School closed in 1991 after Morris, Gorton and Gray were jailed for ABH, common assault and cruelty.
Former pupils described witnessing daily physical and sexual abuse, leaving them with long-term psychological effects. Survivors reported being stripped of their names and referred to solely by laundry numbers, a practice that compounded their trauma.
One survivor was placed at the school at the age of 12, and recounted being assaulted by Morris with no support following his time there.
Many former pupils have never received an apology or explanation from the authorities or institutions responsible for their placement, and no structured aftercare was provided.
However, many survivors understandably feel justice has been incomplete, particularly as institutional failures allowed abuse to continue unchecked for decades.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) recommended a national redress scheme for survivors, yet the Government has not implemented it, citing financial and logistical challenges. Survivors and their legal representatives have criticised this decision, highlighting the ongoing lack of recognition and accountability.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support survivors of institutional abuse in pursuing civil compensation claims. Civil proceedings provide an opportunity for recognition of the harm suffered, financial support for therapy and recovery, and a measure of accountability from the institutions that failed in their duty of care. If you or someone you know was affected by the abuse at Berrow Wood School, our dedicated abuse team can provide confidential advice and guidance on the options available for seeking justice and redress.
