ESSEX Police has said it is working with Essex County Council to support victims of sexual abuse after allegations were levelled at one of the country’s top grammar schools.

Ofsted paid an unannounced visit to Colchester Royal Grammar School after former student Scarlett Mansfield, 26, sent hundreds of sexual abuse allegations, from current and former pupils, to the education watchdog in April.

She received about 200 testimonies after her blog post criticising the school’s “toxic male culture” went viral.

Two of the school’s current students were accused of rape in the accounts.

One victim alleged she was raped on school grounds and another claimed her friend was raped by a student from the school.

Colchester Royal Grammar School head teacher John Russell said: “We are unable to respond to specific allegations.

“What we can say is every incident that has been reported to the school has been taken seriously and dealt with through the Code of Conduct as appropriate; meticulous records are kept of such incidents.”

Essex Police officers are working with Essex County Council’s safeguarding and education teams so victims can be supported and investigations can progress.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are aware of a number of testimonies which have been reported throughout the county and work is being done, both nationally and locally, with these accounts at the forefront.

“With regards to Colchester Royal Grammar School, we have had no allegations of sexual abuse or assault reported to us since the school-specific website was created in April.

“The National Police Chief’s Council continues to work with campaigners to ensure that testimonies like these can be properly investigated, that victims of crime can be supported and that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

This is being addressed through Operation Hydrant, in partnership with the NSPCC, and individual incidents are being passed to forces for investigation.

The spokesman added: “We would encourage anyone with specific concerns about a current or non-recent incident to report it. ou can do this via the new NSPCC helpline or on 101.

If you, or someone you know, feels threatened in any way please call 999 immediately.Everyone at Essex Police and at Essex County Council wants to make sure that our county is a safe place and that anyone responsible for any kind of sexual abuse is brought to justice.”