Foreword BY LADY SMITH

These are the fourteenth of my published case study findings and they relate to the provision of residential care for children at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh.

During the public hearings in the overall boarding schools case study, I heard evidence about many aspects of the boarding provision for children at these schools that amounted to dreadful abuse. It showed that boarders and day pupils were subjected to abuse, that both the boarding and day school environments were ones where there were numerous abusive practices perpetrated by members of staff and other pupils, and that these went unchecked.

Merchiston Castle School, in common with four of the other schools in the boarding schools case study, continues to offer boarding provision, and I heard evidence about the residential care for pupils there up to the closing date of the hearings. The evidence of applicants, whilst relating to experiences within the overall period specified in SCAI’s Terms of Reference – from within living memory to 17 December 2014 – inevitably extended beyond December 2014. It would have been artificial and, I decided, quite wrong to curtail it. Hence the dates specified on the cover of this volume.

I am very grateful to all who have provided evidence to the Inquiry, whether former pupils, former and current staff, or others. The cooperation and assistance of, and contributions from, all the witnesses about their experiences at the school, as well as their wider experiences, learning, and ideas in relation to the provision of education and residential care in Scottish boarding schools have been invaluable.

In reaching the stage of publication of these findings – from detailed analysis of all the evidence ingathered to the final document – I have once more had the benefit of being supported by the exceptional teamwork that has become the hallmark of this Inquiry. I am very grateful to the Inquiry counsel who led in the case study and the members of staff involved at each stage; their diligence and commitment has been remarkable.

Applicants and other witnesses continue to come forward to the Inquiry with relevant evidence about boarding schools and this will be considered as part of a continuing process. I would encourage anyone who has relevant information on any aspect of our work to get in touch with our witness support team. We want to hear from you.

Lady Smith