THE parents of children at the Royal Grammar School have received a letter explaining the suspension of a senior member of staff over allegations of indecent assault.

Deputy headmaster, Nicholas Cousins, 51, was charged on Thursday, April 28, with four counts of indecent assault against three boys in their early teens while he was head of PE at Dulwich College in South London.

Mr Cousins, educated at Loughborough University, joined the RGS from Dulwich College, in 2000, to assume the role of deputy head.

Tim Dingle, headmaster of the school, in Amersham Road, wrote to parents the day after Mr Cousins was charged informing them of the situation.

Mr Dingle added: "These charges relate entirely to allegations concerning his work at another teaching establishment in the 1990s. He Mr Cousins is currently suspended from work, pending court proceedings."

Mr Dingle said the school was unable to comment further at this stage for legal reasons.

Mr Cousins will appear at Tower Bridge Magistrates Court, in London, on Tuesday, May 12.

The Metropolitan Police believe the alleged offences occurred in the late 1990s. One boy is alleged to have been assaulted twice.

Officers from the force's Child Protection Unit, based at Camberwell, are currently investigating.

Sue Imbriano, strategic director for schools at Buckinghamshire County Council, said the police investigation was being taken very seriously.

She said: "Our child protection officers work closely with schools and police in their investigations."

Founded in 1562 by way of Royal Charter, the RGS is one of the leading boys-only grammar schools in the country, with most pupils averaging A grades at both GCSE and A Level. In 2000, the school received a glowing Ofsted report with inspectors calling it an "outstandingly successful school."