KWG and others -v- PBD School (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionMedia and Communications ListAnonymity Order

Claim No: KB-2025-001441

In Proposed Proceedings
In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

Media And Communications List

13 October 2025

Before:

Master Fine

Between:

(1) KWG
(2) LWG
(3) CWG

-v-

PBD School

Anonymity Order

BEFORE Deputy Master Fine Sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, London on 13 October 2025

UPON hearing from Mr Richmond-Coggan, solicitor advocate for the Claimant, Mr Lockley, counsel for the Defendant and Mr Parke for PA Media

AND UPON the Claimants’ application dated 25 April 2025 (the “Claimants’ Application) and the Defendant’s application dated 30 September 2025 (the “Defendant’s Application”)

AND UPON the Court reading the hearing bundle, including draft Particulars of Claim in the proposed Proceedings and accompanying confidential annexes

AND PURSUANT to the Civil Procedure Rules (“CPR”) 39.2(4)
AND UPON the Court being satisfied that proper notice of this application has been given to PA Media
AND UPON considering the Article 8 rights to respect for a private and family life of:

  • the Claimants,
  • the former pupils at PBD School who are referred to in the social worker’s report produced on 29 December 2021 contained within the confidential annex to the draft Particulars of Claim, and
  • the former pupil referred to in the draft PoC as ‘T’
    (such former pupils being referred to herein as “the Former Pupils”)

And the risk of harm that identification may cause to the Claimants and the Former Pupils

AND UPON considering the importance of open justice and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression

AND UPON the Court concluding that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimants, the Defendant and the Former Pupils is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and to protect the interests of the Claimants and of the Former Pupils

AND UPON the Court further concluding that it is necessary to make an anonymity order comprising a withholding order and a reporting restriction order

AND UPON the Parties agreeing BY CONSENT that the validity of the Claimants’ claim form, and consequently the time for service of their claim be extended to a date seven days from the date on which this Order is sealed

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The names of the Claimants, the Defendant and the Former Pupils (hereinafter ‘the Protected Persons’) are to be withheld in the statements of case and in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:

1.1. The First Claimant shall be referred to as “KWG”;
1.2. The Second Claimant shall be referred to as “LWG”;
1.3. The Third Claimant shall be referred to as “CWG”;
1.4. The Defendant shall be referred to as “PBD School”;
1.5. The Former Pupils shall be referred to by appropriate ciphers to be agreed between the Parties.

  1. The Claimants’ address on the claim form shall be substituted by the Claimants’ solicitor’s address.
  2. The Claimants have permission to issue a claim form without naming the Protected Persons and using the above ciphers.
  3. No report, whether oral or in writing, or other communication in whatever form (including internet or social media) addressed to the public at large or any section of the public, of or concerning this claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    4.1. The name or address of any of the Protected Persons;

4.2. Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of any of the Protected Persons; or

4.3. Any image or likeness of any of the Protected Persons.

  1. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  2. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    6.1. A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 above.
    6.2. If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Parties’ solicitors, unless the court orders otherwise.
  3. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court copies of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 above by 6 November 2025. Thereafter, all statements of case and other documents to be filed or served in the proceedings shall be anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 above, and the address of a Party will be given as the address of that Party’s solicitors.
  4. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 13 October 2025 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  5. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or set aside this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days’ notice to the Parties’ solicitors.
  6. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(5) a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk.
  7. The validity of the Claimants’ claim form, and the time for service of the same, is extended until 4pm 22 October 2025.
  8. Costs in the case.