TWO paedophiles were appointed head of care at a special school – with one employing the other.

Anthony Bulley was promoted to head of care at Stony Dean School, Amersham after boss Malcolm Stride was arrested in 1998.

Stride was convicted – only for Bulley to take his job and go on to rape and assault pupils at the Pineapple Road school.

Now the managers has been slammed to for failing to protect pupils after a four-year probe.

A report said: “The welfare of children at Stony Dean School over a number of years was not properly safeguarded.

“As a consequence at least four boys were seriously abused by Anthony Bulley.”

Welfare bosses moved to “express regret” and said “opportunities were missed” – but said abuse could not be ruled out again. The school declined to comment.

Abuse allegations against Bulley by a Stony Dean pupil were investigated in 2002 but no criminal charges were brought. An action plan was drawn up in 2003.

A 2002 Ofsted inspection said child protection procedures were “very good”.

In 2004 and 2005 three children made complaints – and only then did school bosses discover “inconclusive” allegations from another school in 1994.

Bulley pleaded guilty to six counts of rape and sexual assault against four boys in 2005 and was jailed for ten years. The head and deputy were fired.

The “serious case review” report said: “Malcolm Stride and Anthony Bulley were employed in succession as the head of care at Stony Dean School, Buckinghamshire.

“In 1998 Malcolm Stride was arrested and subsequently convicted in 2000 of serious sexual offences against children at a school in North Yorkshire where he had worked before going to Stony Dean School.

“Malcolm Stride had appointed Anthony Bulley as one of his staff team.”

Stride was sentenced to three years and three months in prison at York Crown Court in December 2000.

To read the report click here.

It said of Bulley’s crimes: “The appalling nature of the abuse when it was disclosed and the impact of the abuse on the children and their families cannot be underestimated.”

In a statement, education boss Marion Clayton said: “We wish publicly to express regret about the situation which evolved at Stony Dean School, and sadness that young people suffered.”

Councillor Clayton, cabinet member for achievement, learning and skills at Buckinghamshire County Council, the local education authority, said the school is now “very different”.

Donald McPhail, chairman of the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: “Opportunities were missed to prevent the abuse.”

The report said its purpose is not to find out “who is culpable” but make recommendations.

This means it explains little of exactly what went wrong. It devotes two-and-a-half pages to “what went well”.

Yet its recommendations suggest the gaps that existed with the school, the council and central Government.

It urges the council to ensure “effective safe recruitment policies based on good practice”.

Sue Imbriano, council director of children and young people’s services, said: “We have put a real focus on issue around safer recruitment.”

And she said: “This isn’t only about procedures and practices – it is about culture and climate too.”

The report said the school must comply with “safeguarding practice and requirements” and “checks and balances”.

Recommendations have now been “largely addressed” it adds.

There must also be “assertive challenge” to the school by external bodies and “effective HR practice” within schools.

It urges school inspectors Ofsted to be as “rigorous and questioning as possible”.

It also calls for the Government to review guidance on interviewing children.

Yet Mrs Imbriano said: “I genuinely believe that no-one in an organisation could put their hand up and say this will never happen in their area. That is my personal view.”

This was backed by Cllr Clayton: “There are still people who are determined to behave in this way.”

Mr McPhail said the report was not published earlier because there was a risk it could prejudice criminal, school disciplinary and General Teaching Council hearings.

It also had to be re-written as some information was questioned by those involved in the case, he said.

Headteacher Peter Newsholme and deputy Deryck Miller were sacked in 2005.

A GTC standards panel found they failed to ensure the safety and welfare of children and heard Mr Newsholme failed to follow up a reference when taking on Bulley in 1995 (see link, below).

A later hearing allowed them to continue teaching but not take on child protection roles.

In a statement, Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan said: “After visiting the school earlier this year, I was able to see at first hand the excellent work being done by the headteacher, Pauline Dichler, and her team.

“The school is doing very well. I was impressed by the standard of education and how the children are being encouraged and supported.”