Campaign to rid abuse in schools

Abused as a schoolboy 40 years ago, Mark Payge hid his suffering but is now campaigning in a bid to spare others his experience. DANIEL DARLINGTON reports.

Sipping coffee outside his picturesque riverside home, writer and business consultant Mark Payge looks like he hasn’t a care in the world.

But the 59-year-old former Express reporter has spent most of his life nursing a terrible secret.

Aged 11 at a Buckinghamshire private school he was targeted, groomed and sexually abused. Trapped by his own guilt and shame, the vulnerable schoolboy kept the daily abuse hidden from friends, staff and even his parents who harboured great ambitions for their son.

“At the time I felt ashamed, confused and unworthy,” said Mark. “I knew what was happening to me was wrong but couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone. The rest of my life I have been pursued by this emotional tsunami but could never escape it.”

Four decades on and Mark, now living in Bourne End, has found the strength of mind to recount his dreadful ordeal for a Bafta award-winning Channel 4 documentary film called Chosen.

The harrowing film has ignited the debate on child safety in schools and the married father-of-three has warned that children are still at risk of abuse in schools today.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families says the Government has strengthened the system to prevent unsuitable people from gaining access to children through work. A new vetting system also ensures those convicted of sexual offences against children will be barred from working in schools and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks are now mandatory for all staff.

But while schools are given guidance on their statutory duties to safeguard children, Mark does not believe this goes far enough. “It’s a national disgrace. We need the law to be changed so that any abuse is immediately reported to LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) and that victims get the assistance they need,” he said.

“We need to get that passed by government and all the suffering will have been worthwhile. My abuse won’t have been in vain and we will have made an important contribution to British society.”

In the documentary Mark, and fellow victims of abuse Tom Perry and Alastair Rolfe, talk candidly about the abuse, the guilt and shame and their failure to report it.

Last month he joined filmmakers from True Vision on stage to collect the Bafta for best documentary film. “It was extremely moving to get up on stage in front of everyone,” said Mark “We got a crescendo of applause and it just went through my whole body like a wave of sympathy.”

Since the film was made, Education Minister Ed Balls has launched a review into child protection in schools. But Mark is concerned the legislation does not go far enough and he has vowed to keep campaigning until it is a statutory right for all schools, private and state, to report matters of abuse directly to the relevant authorities.

“That would be such an achievement,” he said, “beyond my wildest dreams.”