The Charity Commission has today published an operational compliance case report opened into a Birmingham charity following the sentencing of a music teacher for sexual assault.

The Commission opened an operational compliance case into the Schools of King Edward VI, a charity that operates schools in Birmingham, following a police investigation into Philip Evans for offences relating to child pornography in one of its schools. The report has concluded that despite serious concerns raised, the Commission are confident that the approach taken by trustees was appropriate.

Evans pleaded guilty and in December 2013 was sentenced to three years and eight months for sexual assault, voyeurism and making indecent images of children. His sentence was cut to 32 months in August of this year after a hearing at the Court of Appeal.

The BBC reported that Evans had installed “spy cameras” in changing rooms at King Edward’s School in Edgbaston. He also installed a camera in a store cupboard where he would physically abuse boys while “measuring” them for their fatigues.

The Commission was informed by the Department for Education that they were investigating the school, and had instructed it to formulate an action plan to address its failure to meet statutory education, safeguarding and welfare standards. This investigation was unrelated to the offences committed by Evans. Following this, the Commission opened an operational compliance case, sharing information with the DfE’s own investigation.

The Commission said that it appeared that the charity’s trustees had not been at all aware of what was happening in the school and that no complaints had been made. It said that the school had tackled the issues swiftly when they had arisen and updated its Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum to re-emphasise to pupils “what the school views an inappropriate, to ensure that pupils understood, and to encourage the reporting of inappropriate behaviour”.

Representatives from the Commission discussed with the charity the risks that related to school trips and one-to-one teaching. Trustees confirmed that polices were being put in place that “all doors have glass panels and no teacher is left alone with children, especially on trips”.

The Charity Commission said: “Despite the serious concerns raised in DfE’s Action Plan, our engagement with the trustees reassured both us as the regulator, and the trustees as those responsible for the safety and well-being of their beneficiaries, that the approach being taken by the trustees was appropriate. Our discussions helped to refine that approach, especially in connection with the schools not directly affected by the employee concerned.”

The Commission has reiterated its call for charity trustees to report serious incidents to them as soon as they suspect them. Stating that, in this case, the charity’s “prompt submission” meant that they could focus their engagement on managing risks and how and where they could make changes.

The charity did not respond to a request for comment.