This is from Get Hampshire:

Headteacher charged with child sex offences
By James Chapple
April 25, 2013

THE headteacher of a junior school in Fleet has been charged with sexual offences relating to a young boy, it has been confirmed.

Andrew Howard is facing two charges of sexual activity with a boy under the age of 16.

He did not return to Velmead Junior School after the Easter break and was charged with the offences on April 11.

Hampshire Constabulary said he had been bailed to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on April 30.

Police said the alleged offences did not relate to any child at the school, past or present.

Mr Howard has since been suspended from his role at the school and Sue Runciman is now acting headteacher.

Hampshire County Council sent letters to parents about the alleged offences.

The school’s latest Ofsted report, published in February following an inspection in January, saw Velmead receive the second highest rating, with inspectors labelling it ‘good’ overall.

The report lavished praise on Mr Howard, who took on the role in 2005, and his deputy’s “highly effective partnership”, which was said to be at the heart of the school’s success.

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