School rejects cult label

THE headmistress of a dance and drama school which has been accused of brainwashing its pupils says it will continue in business. Rachel Richards, head of the Academy of Dancing and Performing Arts at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, denies county council allegations that pupils were subjected to cult-style brainwashing during classes.

She said: "We are just a school teaching the performing arts. Some of our pupils have moved on to appear in the West End theatre and on television.

"People are still coming here for classes from all over Suffolk. We are not involved in any cult activities and to say we are is ridiculous."

Suffolk County Council criticised the school, which has 500 pupils, after it won a protracted legal battle in the Appeal Court to speak out about the academy.

A statement it has issued includes references to High Court observations noted in 1993 about the conduct of a senior staff member at the academy who could not be named.

The statement said that pupils had been encouraged to "move allegiance from their pupils to the Academy unbeknown to their parents". The council felt that the situation was reminiscent of those cases in which parents sought to extricate a child from the influence of a religious or supposedly religious cult.

The statement adds: "There was also considerable anxiety felt as to levels of intimacy that existed between the senior member [of staff] and pupils.

"Suffolk County Council's Social Services Department cannot recommend that children attend the Academy and would wish to alert parents and carers to the perceived risk."

The statement goes on to warn parents about their children attending classes, including dance, given by the academy and its staff in schools.

The academy, which charges fees of up to pounds 1,500 a year for part-time courses, was set up in 1983 and has a high success rate with its pupils.