A former head of drama at Ravens Wood School in Bromley has been jailed for 17 years after being convicted of multiple child sex offences, including the rape of a 12-year-old pupil.

Shaun Baker, 50, of Ridgeway in Pembury, Kent, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, May 12, following a trial that revealed a prolonged campaign of grooming and abuse.

Guilty of 14 Child Sex Offences

Baker was found guilty of 14 offences, including:

• Three counts of rape

• Multiple counts of sexual activity with a child

• Abuse of position of trust

The offences began in the late 2000s, when Baker was in his 30s and considered a “popular and respected” teacher at the all-boys Ravens Wood School in Keston. He continued working in education until his arrest in 2021.

Victim’s Statement: “It took away my innocence”

During sentencing, prosecutor Tara McCarthy read a powerful victim impact statement, in which the survivor said:

“This abuse changed my past, but it will not shape my future. I am determined to live my life on my own terms with courage and dignity.”

The victim described suffering nightmares, trust issues, and the long-lasting psychological scars of the abuse.

Judge Condemns “Exploitation and Grooming”

Sentencing Baker to 17 years in prison, Judge Peter Gower KC told him:

“You systematically exploited and groomed the boy. You abused your position of trust as an educator in the most serious way imaginable.”

Custody Image Released

The Metropolitan Police have released Baker’s custody photograph, urging anyone with concerns or who may have been affected by Baker’s actions to come forward.

Background & Safeguarding

Baker’s crimes raise renewed concerns over safeguarding in schools, particularly regarding how he was able to continue teaching in other institutions for over a decade after the abuse began.

Ravens Wood School has not issued a public statement at the time of writing, but it is expected that local authorities and the Department for Education will examine the case’s implications.