The Charity Commission has today announced a statutory inquiry into St Paul’s School in London to investigate the charity trustees' approach to safeguarding and handling of allegations of a sexual nature.

The investigation follows the arrest of four individuals with links to the school in connection with allegations of sexual abuse. The Commission said it has been engaging with the school’s trustees since May.

The Daily Mail reported the arrests of four individuals in relation to historic sexual abuse and misconduct at St Paul’s School and its prep school Colet Court earlier this month.

The Charity Commission said it began engaging with the charity’s trustees in connection with its concerns in May 2014, “following the national press coverage about the police’s arrests and investigations into claims of historic abuse cases at the school”.

The Commission said that after considering the trustees’ response and its duty to protect public trust in charities, it today made a decision to open the statutory inquiry.

The inquiry will look at how the trustees dealt with risks to the charity and its beneficiaries arising from alleged incidents of abuse and whether and to what extent there has been “misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity by the trustees”.

It will also “examine how the charity handles safeguarding matters, including the creation, development, substance and implementation of its safeguarding policy”.

The inquiry will investigate whether or not the charity’s trustees have “complied with and fulfilled their duties and responsibilities as trustees under charity law”, while looking at their administration, governance and management of the charity.

Frederick Hohler, chairman of the governors at St Paul’s, said: “We note the Charity Commission’s announcement today.  We have met with them and are cooperating fully with their requests.”