PORTSMOUTH (UNITED KINGDOM)
Daily Echo [Southampton UK]
January 28, 2025
By Reece Barrett
A Catholic school in Southampton has said questions are ‘rightly being asked’ after a second former teacher was charged with sex offences this morning.
Edward George Waller, 65, had been working at St Anne’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College on Carlton Road since 2002.
Waller now faces a rape charge, two charges of abuse of a position of trust and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity for incidents between 2004 and 2006.
It comes after former headteacher James Rouse has already been charged with child sex offences in December, and three former staff members remain under investigation.
The school has now issued a full statement, saying it understands the ‘severity of the charges’.
A spokesperson for St Anne’s Catholic School said: “While we do not know the full details of the allegations, there is no shying away from the severity of the charges.
“This is incredibly challenging news, and it is right that we come together to assist one another as we digest all that this means.
“While we can continue to offer the reassurance that Ofsted has recently found our current safeguarding practices, leadership and culture to be effective, we wholly appreciate that there will be questions that are rightly being asked.
“We will always be available to anyone who would like to talk. We are also exploring how we bring our community together more formally once all the details are known about the individuals concerned.”
The school added that its “thoughts and prayers” are with any potential victim and “support remains available for students, staff and their families”.
READ MORE: Former headteacher charged with sex offence as police probe 4 ex-teachers
Waller, of Winter Road, Southsea, is due to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 10.
Rouse, of Lowford Hill Close in Southampton, is due to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on January 30.
Police said three former teachers currently remain under investigation following similar allegations of child sexual abuse by those in a position of trust against former St Anne’s pupils.
Anyone with information regarding the case can contact the police via https://mipp.police.uk/operation/44HC23M03-PO1 quoting reference number 44230175402.