Michael Gove – 2014 Statement on Jimmy Savile
The statement made by Michael Gove, the then Secretary of State for Education, in the House of Commons on 27 March 2014.
I wish to inform the House that the Department for Education has received information about Jimmy Savile relating to several children’s homes and schools in England, dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. This information was uncovered as part of the document review process undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service on behalf of the Department of Health.
Having reviewed the information, I have decided that the Department for Education should pass the information to the appropriate organisations for further investigation. In most cases the work will be conducted by the relevant local authority; in others the relevant institution or a legacy organisation will take the lead.
In order to ensure consistency of approach with the NHS Savile investigations, I am replicating the arrangements adopted by the Department of Health to quality assure the work. I have appointed Lucy Scott-Moncrieff to provide independent oversight and quality assurance of the process, undertaking a similar role to that of Kate Lampard in the NHS trust investigations. I have asked Lucy Scott-Moncrieff to ensure that investigating organisations take all practicable steps to establish what happened and why at the time of the incidents, and any lessons there might be to inform current safeguarding practice in our schools and children’s homes.
I will inform the House of the outcome of this work.
Information has been provided to responsible organisations as set out in the table below:
Institution(s) mentioned in the information Investigating body Area
Children’s home (name unknown) Local authority Bournemouth
Colletton Lodge Local authority Devon
The Ride Children’s Home Local authority Hounslow
Parklands Children’s Home Local authority Gloucestershire
Sevenoaks School Sevenoaks School Board of Governors Kent
Northways Residential School Local authority Leeds
Beechcroft Children’s Home Local authority Leeds
Henshaw School for the Blind Henshaw Society for Blind People Leeds
Notre Dame Grammar School Notre Dame Catholic College Board of Governors Leeds
Care home (name unknown) Local authority London Borough of Islington
Hollies Care Home Local authority London Borough of Southwark
St Leonard’s Children’s Home Local authority London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Sarah Laski Home Local authority Manchester
Broome House Children’s Home Local authority Manchester
Children’s home (name unknown) Local authority Manchester
Aspley Wood School Local authority Nottingham
Bassetlaw School Local authority Nottinghamshire
National Children’s Home, Penhurst Action for Children Oxfordshire
Beach Holme Children’s Home Local authority Surrey
Broomfield Children’s Home Local authority Surrey
Barnardo’s children’s home (name unknown) Barnardo’s Redbridge
