A serious case review into the suicide of a woman during a trial has found her death could have been prevented. Frances Andrade killed herself after giving evidence against teacher Michael Brewer who abused her while at Chetham's School of Music.
Music schools, ballet schools and drama courses, create a "backdrop" of "very particular and potent form of grooming," Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board said in its serious case review findings today.
"The adults around them, who are often prominent performers in their own right, are invested with exceptional power and influence and are in a position of trust from which they exert considerable leverage over whether their pupils achieve success in their chosen fields," the report said.
It described such institutions as "hothousing establishments".
Former Chetham's School of Music pupil Frances Andrade committed suicide last year, days after giving evidence against Michael Brewer, a former music director at the prestigious school in Manchester.
Brewer and his ex-wife Kay, were subsequently convicted of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was 18.
The report went on: "Chetham's School provided an ideal environment for this kind of abuse to occur. The school seemed unaware of the risks of sexual abuse and it does not appear to have proactively promoted a child protection agenda."
The report's panel said "boundaries were blurred" and some staff appeared to act at times "with impunity".
Teachers were placed in an "exclusive and powerful" position over their proteges amid an atmosphere of elite performance, it added.
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