Chloe Hadjimatheou

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.

No member of staff was admitting anything, and she hadn't been sacked, but it felt like a sort of wink and a nod that the issue had been quietly resolved, for her and for the school. That evening, Philippa tells Gareth about the call with Mr Tinch.

No member of staff was admitting anything, and she hadn't been sacked, but it felt like a sort of wink and a nod that the issue had been quietly resolved, for her and for the school. That evening, Philippa tells Gareth about the call with Mr Tinch.

She'll never teach again.

She'll never teach again.

So hang on a minute, did he confirm it to her?

So hang on a minute, did he confirm it to her?

It's a really big deal, this allegation, that the school was warned that a member of their staff was committing a serious crime, sex with a minor. And instead of referring it to the authorities and launching a proper independent investigation, they quietly just made it all go away.

It's a really big deal, this allegation, that the school was warned that a member of their staff was committing a serious crime, sex with a minor. And instead of referring it to the authorities and launching a proper independent investigation, they quietly just made it all go away.