Multiple Concurrent Staff Crises at an Independent School

Challenge

Within the space of a month, an independent school faced three serious and unrelated staff incidents in quick succession. Two members of staff were arrested on separate criminal matters while a third staff member died by suicide. The proximity of the incidents, combined with their sensitivity, created significant reputational and communications risk for the school.

Solution

Alder provided strategic communications counsel across all three matters simultaneously, working in close coordination with the school's legal team. Support included:

- Advising on how to communicate the departures of the two staff members under investigation in a way that was legally appropriate and reputationally low-risk
- Preparing a full suite of media statements and lines to take for multiple scenarios, including the possibility of the situations becoming more widely known
- Advising the senior leadership team on how to communicate the death of the staff member sensitively and appropriately to the school community
- Preparing the school for the inquest process and any resulting press interest

Outcome

- All three incidents were navigated without negative reputational impact

- Media interest did not escalate beyond what was manageable

- The school's community was kept informed in a way that was measured, appropriate and sensitive throughout