The Yehudi Menuhin School has reported allegations of historic child abuse to police.

The elite Cobham Road said the allegations were made about Marcel Gazelle, the founding musical director at the school in the 1960s.

Mr Gazelle died in 1969.

The allegations, aired on Channel 4 News, included claims Mr Gazelle sexually abused girls as young as 10 at the elite musical school about 50 years ago.

A statement from the school headmaster said they were “shocked and saddened” to learn of the allegations and reported them to Surrey Police on April 22 and May 2 this year, in accordance with school policies.

The statement said: “The school has checked the records which survive from 50 years ago and can find nothing about any concerns expressed at the time.

“To the current headmaster’s knowledge, the first allegations relating to this period were made in an interview in 2003 by Nigel Kennedy.

“However, following the publication of those allegations, neither Mr Kennedy nor any other former pupil came forward to provide any detail which could be passed to the police.”

Mr Gazelle’s family told news outlets they were very saddened by the allegations, which they denied.

The school said it attached “the utmost importance to the safety and welfare of the students in its care” and continued to concentrate on providing students with first-class care and teaching.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “We have been contacted by the Yehudi Menuhin School following allegations of historic sexual abuse against a member of staff who is now deceased.

“The force is liaising with the school and would encourage anyone with concerns to contact us.

“Surrey Police treats any allegation of this nature seriously and have officers who are specially trained to support victims of sexual assault.”