The UK’s wokest boarding school is being probed by police for allegations of historical sexual abuse. After one alleged victim reported claims of harrowing abuse – and several ignored reports – dozens of others spoke out about St Christopher’s school, where students have to eat a vegetarian diet, wear their own clothes, and call teachers by their first names.

Historical allegations included rape and sexual assault from both teachers and pupils, staff impregnating students and pupils having abortions. They also said pupils fainted from hunger, with allegations of bullying, battering and neglect. The woman at the centre of a Telegraph investigation, who attended the Letchworth school in Hertfordshire during the 1980s and 1990s, claimed she had reported the alleged sexual abuse to staff decades ago when it happened, aged under 12, but she was ignored.

She said: “Nobody listened, nobody reported it, nobody, it seemed, believed me.” The victim reported it to police in 2024, and believed that nothing would come of it, and now she has reactivated her case.

Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed it had “re-opened a case into historic abuse” at the school, which describes itself as “progressive” and has origins in Theosophy, a mystical philosophy founded in the late 1800s.

The alleged victim claimed that the same perpetrator assaulted her once more years later. But after being made to feel wrong for reporting it the first time, she saw “no point” in speaking out again.

When it became “apparent” they had moved onto other alleged victims, the woman said she reported the abuse of others twice again, but was silenced.

The alleged victim said it took “so much bravery” to speak out, and that it was a travesty she had to revisit it again all these years later. She encouraged other victims to come forward now, in the knowledge they will be believed and protected.

Following the investigation, dozens of others have come forward, including a number of other alleged victims of serious sexual assault and rape.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “Following recent contact with the constabulary, we can confirm that we have re‑opened a case into historic abuse at St Christopher’s School, Letchworth. We understand how incredibly difficult it can be for victims and survivors to come forward, especially after a long time has passed, but we have specialist officers to offer support every step of the way.

“If you wish to report any information which could help our investigation, please contact us via 101, online at herts.police.uk/report.”

A spokesman for St Chris said: “Anyone with concerns about the past culture of the school should contact Hertfordshire Police or the school’s safeguarding team, where they will be listened to and supported. We will, of course, co-operate fully with any police enquiries, and also want to reassure former pupils that anyone coming forward to us will be taken seriously and treated with care and sensitivity.”