The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry released its report on Merchiston Castle School on June 25, 2025. Lady Smith’s findings detailed systematic failures and concluded that for 60 years, abusers were protected by a culture that normalised the abuse of pupils.
From the Foreword: “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.”
As head teacher of Scotland’s last remaining all-boys school, Huw Jones believes instilling emotional resilience is key to tackling toxic masculinity… Mr Jones said: “There is a crisis. But my personal take is we’re viewing that crisis the wrong way. “I don’t think boys are broken, or men are broken. I think there’s a real lack of identity, belonging and connection, particularly in men and boys and that manifests itself in a lack of self-esteem.”
