WINCHESTER College has been accused of assisting in a "cover-up" of the abuse carried out on dozens of boys by local barrister John Smyth.

The recent Makin report, which led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has also found that the prominent boarding school did not report Smyth to the police although it was aware of his actions, preferring to deal with the matter internally.

As well as this, doubts have emerged over the validity of the claims of former headmaster, John Thorn, that all parties involved had expressed their belief it was better to keep the matter private.

One victim told the inquiry that Mr Thorn, the headmaster, “was lying” when he claimed in 1982 that “he had consulted all the other parents and that everyone wanted it to be kept a secret”. Mr Thorn died in October 2023.

READ MORE: John Smyth victim says Justin Welby resignation paves way for questioning others

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned as a result of the Makin reportSmyth had led the Christian forum at the school but in 1982 was forced out for abusing at least 22 pupils, 16 of whom were beaten, and six groomed. They were as young as 13. The school did not report him to police, leaving Smyth free to continue his abuse elsewhere.

The college's own internal report, published in 2022, came to similar conclusions as the Makin review, pointing out that not all the victims' parents were consulted about going to the police, a move which may have stopped Smyth's continued abuse.

However, in 2017, when a Channel 4 investigation unearthed Smyth’s abuses, Winchester insisted “nothing was held back in 1982”. It admitted it had failed to report matters to the police but presented this as a sign of its caring approach.

Another element which came to light both in the Makin report and the college's internal review was the fanatical element of the Christian Forum, an evangelical group within the school which has been called a "cult".

SEE ALSO: Winchester barrister who abused boys was protected by church

According to the Winchester College review, Mark Stibbe, one of Smyth's victims and former pupil, described the sense of superiority and elitism inherent in membership of the Christian Forum.

He said: "Smyth and his cult members were those who had chosen the right road. The spiritual pride here is grotesque. Combined with the elitism already embedded in the boarding school culture, this sense of spiritual authority created a lethal cocktail."

When the Chronicle contacted Winchester College, its response was as follows: "In January 2022, Winchester College published an independent review into John Smyth’s abuse of former pupils, which highlighted the school’s failure to prevent the abuse and its further failure in 1982 to prevent Smyth from moving overseas, where he continued to commit horrific acts of abuse against children.

"We wish to acknowledge the courage and determination of the victims in pursuing the truth about John Smyth, and we apologise unreservedly for the College’s part in their terrible experiences."