Chloe Hadjimatheou

It was still illegal to have sex with children under the age of 16, though. But Philippa has no faith in the police. And anyway, what would she tell them? She has no hard evidence and Gareth's denying everything. So she clings to the hope that maybe, just maybe, she's worrying about nothing. Maybe there's nothing more to it than flirting and playground rumours.

It was still illegal to have sex with children under the age of 16, though. But Philippa has no faith in the police. And anyway, what would she tell them? She has no hard evidence and Gareth's denying everything. So she clings to the hope that maybe, just maybe, she's worrying about nothing. Maybe there's nothing more to it than flirting and playground rumours.

What I'm trying to get my head around at this stage is what were senior staff at the school thinking? Sure, safeguarding back then wasn't what it is today. Child abuse was a fairly new idea. It had only become an official term a few years before and mainly referred to physical and psychological abuse and neglect.

What I'm trying to get my head around at this stage is what were senior staff at the school thinking? Sure, safeguarding back then wasn't what it is today. Child abuse was a fairly new idea. It had only become an official term a few years before and mainly referred to physical and psychological abuse and neglect.

It wouldn't be until July that year, 1988, when the first guidance would be published for how schools, local authorities and other public institutions should be working together to protect children from abuse. So the school might not have had specific guidance to follow in cases like this. But we're talking about something clearly illegal here.

It wouldn't be until July that year, 1988, when the first guidance would be published for how schools, local authorities and other public institutions should be working together to protect children from abuse. So the school might not have had specific guidance to follow in cases like this. But we're talking about something clearly illegal here.

A member of staff hired by the school to educate and protect students having sex with somebody under the age of consent, a child. And the school would have been obliged to report a crime. Is it possible that even with Philippa's phone calls, they didn't credit the rumours? No way, says Gavin, who was in Gareth's class at the time.

A member of staff hired by the school to educate and protect students having sex with somebody under the age of consent, a child. And the school would have been obliged to report a crime. Is it possible that even with Philippa's phone calls, they didn't credit the rumours? No way, says Gavin, who was in Gareth's class at the time.

One of those Thursdays, Gareth's brother Freddie is waiting for Philippa, his mum, when she gets home from work again. This time, he tells her he's seen Gareth and Miss Bowen walking together miles from the school, during school hours. They'd gone for a drink in a pub near Gareth's house.

One of those Thursdays, Gareth's brother Freddie is waiting for Philippa, his mum, when she gets home from work again. This time, he tells her he's seen Gareth and Miss Bowen walking together miles from the school, during school hours. They'd gone for a drink in a pub near Gareth's house.

So she gets him a glass of Coke. When they get up to leave, he does something on a 14-year-old's whim. He opens up his school bag and slips both their empty glasses inside. Mementos from a romantic afternoon, perhaps. He remembers thinking his mum might be quite pleased with a couple of new glasses.

So she gets him a glass of Coke. When they get up to leave, he does something on a 14-year-old's whim. He opens up his school bag and slips both their empty glasses inside. Mementos from a romantic afternoon, perhaps. He remembers thinking his mum might be quite pleased with a couple of new glasses.

The pub's round the corner from his house, so he pops in to drop off his school bag and he leaves the glasses in the kitchen sink. Then he rushes back out to meet Miss Bowen again and they spend the rest of the afternoon in bed round at her place. So when he gets home later that evening, he has no idea what his mum knows. Did you see your brother?

The pub's round the corner from his house, so he pops in to drop off his school bag and he leaves the glasses in the kitchen sink. Then he rushes back out to meet Miss Bowen again and they spend the rest of the afternoon in bed round at her place. So when he gets home later that evening, he has no idea what his mum knows. Did you see your brother?

Philip has gone to the kitchen sink and seen these glasses sitting in there. Glasses she knows aren't hers.

Philip has gone to the kitchen sink and seen these glasses sitting in there. Glasses she knows aren't hers.

Philip is feeling desperate, so the next morning she picks up the phone and tries Gareth's head of year again, Mr Tinch. This time, he has some big news for her.

Philip is feeling desperate, so the next morning she picks up the phone and tries Gareth's head of year again, Mr Tinch. This time, he has some big news for her.

And these are the specific words Philippa remembers him using, that it doesn't matter now anyway because Miss Bowen's leaving at the end of term. And I'd been assured that she would never teach again by Mr Tinch. For Philippa, this seems to be some kind of recognition by the school.

And these are the specific words Philippa remembers him using, that it doesn't matter now anyway because Miss Bowen's leaving at the end of term. And I'd been assured that she would never teach again by Mr Tinch. For Philippa, this seems to be some kind of recognition by the school.