Update on the trial of Former Director of Music

Dear School Community,

On behalf of the St. Peter’s School Trust Board, I am writing to bring you up to date with some recent events.

As many of you would have seen in the media, Geoffrey Coker – a former Director of Music at St. Peter’s who was employed from 1974 – 1976 – was found guilty today of performing and inducing indecent acts against several alumni who were students at the school during these years.

The Board wishes to acknowledge the courage of our alumni survivors who came forward to share their experiences in court. Their willingness to speak out about their deeply personal experiences of abuse was crucial in ensuring that justice was served today.

The School Trust Board wants to make it clear that these historical events are the absolute antithesis of the safeguarding values St. Peter’s upholds today. As a school, we are committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of all current students. Safeguarding principles are incorporated into every aspect of the St. Peter’s school experience.

The School Trust Board acknowledges and apologises to alumni survivors for the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse they experienced while at school. St. Peter’s failed to protect those former students from such abuse occurring, and for that we are profoundly sorry.

To any alumni who are survivors of historical abuse, we want you to know that the independent and confidential Listening Service we set up in November 2021 is still available. Through this service any alumni can receive counselling and psychological support. If you would like to access this service, simply email alumniassist@outlook.com.

It is possible that the conviction of Geoffrey Coker could prompt other alumni to want to report their experiences of historical abuse to New Zealand Police. The- Board wants our school community to know that we will continue to fully cooperate with Police on any future investigations into historical abuses that may arise.

From the time that the School Trust Board announced our original acknowledgement and apology to alumni survivors of historical abuse in November 2021 until today, we have committed to being open and honest about the subject.

We understand that this news about the abuse of some of our former students will be distressing for many in and around our school. St. Peter’s Cambridge is a unique, extended community and we encourage you to support one another today.

If you have any questions or want to discuss anything related to this message, please reach out to me personally via email on stpeters@stpeters.school.nz

Kind regards,

John Macaskill-Smith

St. Peter’s School Trust Board Chair

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