A top independent school has appointed a former senior judge to investigate claims of rape culture.
Highgate School has appointed Dame Anne Rafferty, a former Court of Appeal judge, to lead an independent review into allegations of sexual assault and abuse.
A dossier with more than 200 testimonies by former and current Highgate School pupils was sent to governors and published online.
The document includes first-hand accounts of alleged abuse as well as claims rape was “tolerated” by staff.
On Thursday girls and boys at the school walked out of classes to show “solidarity with survivors of sexual abuse and harassment”.
Claims of rape, sexual abuse and misogyny have been made by pupils from several independent schools and published on the website, Everyone’s Invited.
Schools mentioned in the accounts include Highgate School, Latymer Upper in Hammersmith and Dulwich College.
In a statement on Twitter on Friday, Highgate School said: “We are horrified and deeply shocked by the testimonies on ‘Everyone’s Invited’ and elsewhere.
“The Governing Body have appointed The Rt Hon Dame Anne Rafferty to lead the Independent Review into the issues raised by the testimonies.
“We are fully committed to working with experts, families and pupils to become part of the solution.”
In a letter sent to school alumni on Thursday evening, the school’s headmaster, Adam Pettitt said the school will carry out an internal review of testimonies and draw up an “indicative anti-sexism plan”.
"We are fortunate to draw upon Dame Anne’s experience as a Lady Justice of Appeal as well as her years as a High Court Judge and as Chancellor at the University of Sheffield," Mr Pettitt said in a letter seen by the Telegraph.
"Dame Anne will lead a panel of professionals with relevant expertise; she is currently considering next steps and we will be able to make further announcements early next term."
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Children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said allegations of sexual violence and harassment in schools should be reported to the police.
She told the BBC: “It’s really distressing, and we get lots of testimony like this.”
She said there was “very clear advice on sexual violence and harassment” for schools, and serious incidents “must be escalated to both social care and to the police”.
Latymer Upper School has reported allegations to the Met and has notified Hammersmith and Fulham council’s children’s services.
The £20,000-a-year school said in a statement: “We take all such issues very seriously.”
Dulwich College wrote to parents on Thursday to confirm it had identified pupils to the Metropolitan Police after claims boys at the school were sex abusers.
