Britain’s ‘strictest headmaster’, 47, is FINALLY sacked from £37,500-a-year school after telling female pupils they looked ‘cute’ and ‘naughty’ in creepy texts
- Toby Belfield told one girl that she was a ‘potential sexual threat to young boys’
- Previously emailed parents to say that he disapproved of pupil relationships
- Government had threatened to close school if it didn’t sack the married head
- Ruthin School announced it terminated his employment with ‘immediate effect’
Britain’s ‘strictest headmaster’ was today sacked from a top boarding school after sending ‘flirty’ text messages to young girls.
Education minsters warned it would close the £37,500-a-year school unless it ditched principal Toby Belfield, 47.
Ruthin School in North Wales announced it ‘decided to terminate Mr Belfield’s employment with immediate effect’ after a safeguarding review.
Mr Belfield (pictured) was previously dubbed Britain’s strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students
In a statement the school said children would be ‘safer’ in the future as a result of the sacking.
It said: ‘This has been, and remains, a highly sensitive and challenging situation. A number of external investigations have been conducted over some months, and the school’s council of management has worked with relevant agencies throughout and continues to do so.
‘As we have previously stated, while external investigations have been ongoing, the Principal has not been carrying out his role at the school.
‘The school’s council of management received a verbal interim report on Friday from the external person we appointed to independently review Mr Belfield’s conduct, and on the basis of that report has decided to terminate Mr Belfield’s employment with immediate effect.’
Belfield complimented a student’s red dress, said he would visit pupils at University, and asked about their sex lives. The messages above are examples of what he had sent to other pupils
Toby Belfield pictured outside the school, in Denbighshire, north Wales
It said the Vice Principal had been appointed as interim head, adding: ‘We are determined to ensure that the children at Ruthin School, now and in the future, will be all the better cared for and safer as a result of the work which is being carried out between the school’s council of management and the local Welsh education authorities.’
In a series of texts married Mr Belfield called the girls ‘cute’, ‘naughty’ and discussed one’s virginity.
Mr Belfield, who is head of Ruthin School in North Wales, told one girl: ‘I’ll visit you at university to check you are still an angel.’
In another message he said: ‘I worry, definitely, about you and sexual behaviour. You might need my support and you shouldn’t risk not having it.. All the boarding staff have been told you are a potential sexual threat to young boys.’
The private school boasts a string of successful ex-pupils including John Lennon’s son Julian in the 1980s.
Principal Mr Belfield, was previously dubbed Britain’s strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students.
He told parents that too many students were registered as ‘sick’ when they were just ‘tired’ and disapproved of relationships between pupils.
Last week Kirsty Williams, Welsh Government Education Minister, warned the school must take immediate action or risk closure.
Messages Mr Belfield sent are pictured above where he claims he prefers petite women
She said: ‘In the event that an independent school does not act to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are pupils at the school in a way that Welsh Government and other bodies think is appropriate, the ultimate sanction would be to remove the school from the register of independent schools. This would mean the school could no longer offer full-time education.’
A safeguarding report by Care Inspectorate Wales found the school was putting pupils ‘at risk of harm’.
Now a report has found the school has ‘serious shortfalls’ where pupils are ‘not appropriately safeguarded.’
It said: ‘We found some staff did not always feel supported, morale was low and they felt undermined and vulnerable by the lack of effective oversight by the council of management.’
The report also found students did not ask for help with their mental health because they were scared of losing a place at university.
It said: ‘Policies are discouraging young people from coming forward, accessing support in relation to their mental health in fear of losing their place at school or university. Policies relating to their emotional health were inadequate and discriminatory.
‘The counsellor had not visited or supported any young person at the school in the 12 months preceding this inspection, even though the need was apparent for such a service.’
The report also found there was a failure to ensure staff followed a professional code of conduct that ‘resulted in young people being placed at risk of harm’.
The school charges £37,500-a-year for full boarding and up to £14,500-a-year for day pupils.
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