Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged that the Government will do “everything within our power” to prevent another child facing the same fate as 13-month-old Preston Davey, who was sexually abused and murdered by his adoptive father, Jamie Varley. Varley, 37, a former high school teacher, was handed a whole life term and told he will never be eligible for parole after inflicting “unremitting abuse” on Preston before a final, fatal sexual assault. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, an ex-public schoolboy, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the abuse and participating in it.
New Safeguards by March 2026
In the Commons, Ms Phillipson committed to rolling out new safeguards in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 by March. This follows calls from education committee chairwoman Helen Hayes for a timetable to implement “multi-agency child protection teams in every local authority area.” Ms Phillipson said it was a “shocking case” and that the Government takes it “extremely seriously.” She added: “I have asked for independent experts to look at Oldham Council, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the regional adoption agency to look carefully at all of the issues and concerns that have been raised.”
Independent Reviews Underway
The child safeguarding practice review is commencing, led by the local safeguarding partnership with the national child safeguarding practice review, to ensure the highest quality. Reform UK education spokeswoman Suella Braverman questioned why no alarm was raised among the “army of health visitors, social workers and medics who saw baby Preston,” and asked what action is being taken for children under Oldham Council’s care now. Ms Phillipson responded that updating legislation is “an urgent priority” to “do everything within our power to keep children safe.” She concluded: “I am glad that justice has been served. We can’t bring Preston back, but we can make sure that we do everything within our power to stop this happening to other children in future.”
