Royal Alexandra and Albert School abuse claims

Leigh Day’s abuse team is currently investigating cases of abuse at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School. We act on behalf of former pupils who claim they suffered physical and sexual abuse by staff.

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School near Reigate, Surrey, was established in 1959. This followed the amalgamation of the Royal Alexandra School, and the Royal Albert School, founded in 1758 and 1864 respectively.

Located on the Gatton Park country estate, the school is a co-educational state boarding school that educates pupils aged between seven and 18-years-old.

If you or a loved one attended the Royal Alexandra and Albert School and think you may have a claim or information related to this case, get in touch with our abuse team. We can provide advice and guidance on the next steps, supporting you in holding those responsible to account.

Royal Alexandra and Albert School abuse

BBC documentary programme, Panorama, featured the Royal Alexandra and Albert School abuse in a November 2013 broadcast. The programme revealed the existence of documents in the National Archives that detailed a cover-up of child abuse by seven perpetrators at the school between the 1950s and 1980s.

Two former staff at the school – Colin York and Allen Meredith – were jailed for serious sexual offences in September 2011 and 1995 respectively. York, an ex-assistant housemaster, was convicted of charges including sexual abuse during the 1970s.

Meredith admitted to Panorama that he had abused boys during his employment at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School. He was sacked in 1985, before being employed by another state boarding school – the Royal Caledonian in 1989.

Meredith was jailed for seven years for serious sexual offences. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

In May 2016, Philip Batten – a former housemaster and English teacher at the school – was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment too. He was found guilty of a range of charges, including child cruelty and serious sexual assault.

Contact Leigh Day’s abuse claims team

If you attended the Royal Alexandra and Albert School and were a victim of abuse by staff, you may have grounds to make a claim – even if it occurred many years or decades ago. Contact our specialist abuse solicitors by phone or email and one of our team will discuss your situation and assess if you have a claim.

You can talk confidentially to a member of the child abuse claims team today. We’re here to help and treat each individual case with care, compassion and provide the support you need.

Our work supporting Royal Alexandra and Albert School abuse victims

Leigh Day continues to represent former pupils of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School who were subjected to abuse by staff members.

One such case was brought on behalf of ‘Jonathan’ (not his real name), who successfully closed a legal claim for compensation against the school. This was in relation to the abuse he suffered by Philip Batten.

Jonathan’s legal team gathered expert reports from professionals in the fields of psychiatry and psychology, to determine that Jonathan’s later life was adversely affected by the abuse.

For further support, the National Association of People Abused in Childhood runs a free confidential helpline on 0808 801 0331.