Woman arrested over sex assault at top girls’ school

A woman teacher at one of London's top private girls' schools has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a pupil.

The 26-year-old teacher at the City of London School for Girls is on bail and has been suspended.

Parents at the £13,000-a-year school in the Barbican complex were sent text messages about the incident.

A letter on the school's website from headmistress Diana Vernon read: "A member of staff has been arrested following investigations, conducted by the City of London Police, into an alleged, inappropriate relationship with one of our students.

"The school takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding of children extremely seriously; we were proactive in reporting this allegation and have since been cooperating fully with the police and other authorities. I am unable to provide any further information at present as this matter is subject to continuing police investigation."

Police confirmed a 26-year-old woman from south London was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

Social networking websites used by pupils at the school were rife with theories about the arrest.

One recent school-leaver wrote: "I am not too surprised. I knew one girl who had a one-night stand with a man employed by the school the day she left the school but because she was 18 and had just left no-one minded."

The school has about 670 pupils from the ages of seven to 18. Previous pupils include singer Dido and television presenter Claudia Winkleman.