Northways School: Leeds police investigating allegations of sexual and physical abuse as former pupil speaks out

Northways School, near Wetherby, was a community special school for boys aged 11-19 years old who were deemed to have behavioural problems.

Managed by Leeds City Council, it had a roll of 52 boys and a boarding facility for around 12 pupils before the site in Willow Lane, Clifford, was closed down in 1997.

Now West Yorkshire Police has confirmed detectives are investigating allegations of physical and sexual assaults at the school in the 1990s.

A force spokeperson said: "Officers from Leeds District Safeguarding Unit are investigating allegations of physical and sexual assaults in relation to the former Northways School in the 1990s."

The Yorkshire Evening Post has also spoken exclusively to one of the former pupils who reported experiencing both physical and sexual abuse during his time at Northways.

Mr P, who does not wish to disclose his full name, initially joined the school as a 10-year-old day pupil in 1992. He later became a boarder after his travel funding was revoked.

He said at least seven other pupils and four former staff members have now come forward to report abuse at the school in the 1990s, with Leeds District Safeguarding Unit leading the investigation.

“I have a friend who is a teacher and they told me I needed to go forward," Mr P said.

"It's been stressful, I've had sleepless nights and nightmares - I've had to be put on sleeping tablets.

"There is a sense of relief that they're listening to me now, finally."

Mr P, who is now 40, said he feels fortunate that he was able to rejoin mainstream education in 1995.

"I suppose I’ve been one of the lucky ones," he added.

"I managed to pull my act together and get myself back into mainstream school.

"I've always suffered from flashbacks from it but I’ve kept most of it to myself because I'm that kind of person.

"I don't like talking about it because it brings back bad memories, not only things that have happened to me but things that have happened to the other boys when I was there.”