THE MAN in charge of Oxfordshire children’s welfare during some of the ‘Bullfinch’ years is now overseeing an education department in Australia under fire over a school sex abuse scandal.

Keith Bartley, pictured, left the UK in 2011 to become chief executive of the South Australian Government Education department, which has now been criticised for its handling of sexual abuse complaints at a school in Adelaide.

Three days ago a report into child sex abuse at an Adelaide school found that Education Department officials failed to correctly inform parents, and that they had given incorrect legal advice. And now Mr Bartley’s role in Oxfordshire is under scrutiny by Australian politicians following the Bullfinch case.

A serious case review is being carried out after seven men were convicted of trafficking and exploiting girls as young as 11 in Oxford between 2004 and 2011 despite the victims being known to police and Oxfordshire County Council. Five of them were given life sentences last week.

Mr Bartley was the first director for children, young people and families at Oxfordshire County Council between 2006 and 2007, however yesterday he distanced himself from Bullfinch.

Oxfordshire County Council has previously apologised for its care and handling of some of the Bullfinch victims.

Mr Bartley said if he had been notified he would have reacted, and would be happy to co-operate if necessary.

In a statement to Australian newspaper The Advertiser he said: “These allegations are malicious and call into question the motives and intentions of those making the allegations and I suggest they be given appropriate scrutiny.

“The first I heard of the case in Oxfordshire was last week.

“I have no prior knowledge of the matters concerned either directly or indirectly.

“I was not contacted by the Oxfordshire Council, police nor Crown Prosecution Service despite there being an extensive investigation and prosecution of multiple offenders on this matter.

“While I was indeed the director for children, young people and families, my duties did not cover child welfare until the beginning of 2006 as a result of statutory changes made by the British Government.”

Chief executive of Oxfordshire County Council Joanna Simons did not respond when asked if she would contact Mr Bartley for the serious case review.

Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “It is then for those conducting the independent review to decide if they wish to speak to any individuals.”

The council said Mr Bartley was director for education between 2003 and 2006, when all councils were required to have a single director for children’s services.

It said his portfolio covered education and children’s social care.

Opposition politicians were expected to raise Bullfinch in the Australian State Parliament last night.

Australian Supreme Court Justice Bruce Debelle carried out an investigation of the education department after revelations in October that parents were not told for two years about the 2010 rape of a student by an after-school-hours care worker.

The abuse occurred before Mr Bartley was appointed chief executive, but failings highlighted by Judge Debelle centred on the department after he took over.