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Andrew Bruce: Bishop’s Stortford College’s former director of music banned from teaching for life for ‘inappropriate’ touching of boys for sexual gratification




The long-serving former director of music at Bishop’s Stortford College has been banned from teaching for life for “inappropriate behaviour” with boys while on school trips abroad.

Andrew Bruce, 64, who was first employed by the private school in 1986, resigned in 2018 after allegations were made against him.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing earlier this month was told he preyed on students of the Maze Green Road school during overseas trips in 2016 and 2015.

Bishop’s Stortford College
Bishop’s Stortford College

And more than a decade before, while assisting the Royal School of Church Music during a residential trip in England, he rubbed soap in the crotch of a boy who had come to him during the night for help.

The boy cried and rocked himself to sleep when he returned to his bed, a report from the hearing says.

The allegations were found proven by the TRA panel, which determined Bruce was motivated by “sexual gratification”.

The hearing was told that in June or July 2016, Bruce was a member of staff on a Bishop’s Stortford College residential trip to Normandy, France.

On returning from the beach, he instructed pupils to go to their hotel rooms and clean sand from their bodies.

He then visited the room of two boys – referred to in the TRA report as pupils A and B – and asked them to get naked.

They removed their clothes “so he could check if they had properly cleaned themselves, including being told to remove their boxer shorts,” the report adds.

Bruce then lifted up pupil A’s towel, exposed his naked body and brushed his back.

The year before, during a trip to Belgium, Bruce had entered a dormitory bathroom while pupil A was showering, the panel was told.

The TRA hearing was also told that in 2004 Bruce was assisting the Royal School of Church Music during a residential trip to Nottinghamshire.

A boy – pupil D – had asked for help during the night. Bruce asked him to remove his clothes.

“Once naked, Mr Bruce placed soap on pupil D’s body – and in particular, his crotch and groin area,” the report said. “Mr Bruce touched his genitals when he was cleaning him.

“Pupil D returned to his bed, cried and rocked himself to sleep.”

During the hearing, Bruce showed no remorse for his actions, the report said.

TRA decision maker Sarah Buxcey said Bruce could not apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Bishop’s Stortford College said in a statement: “The failure of a former member of our staff to meet our normally high professional standards is a source of deep regret.

“We referred this matter to the TRA ourselves as soon as these allegations came to light, in line with our normal safeguarding procedures.

“We welcome the panel’s decision, and applaud those who had the courage to come forward and give evidence in the first place.

“Nothing is more important to us than the continued safety, happiness and overall well-being of our pupils.”



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