Today, the [Scottish Parliament’s] Public Petitions Committee supported PE1979 by keeping it open and agreeing actions to progress our petition’s calls.
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI)
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) was established on 1 October 2015 under the Inquiries Act 2005 to investigate the nature and extent of historical abuse of children in care in Scotland, including institutional failures to protect them and the continuing impact on survivors.
Its remit expressly includes state and private institutions, including independent boarding schools, and it has therefore conducted a dedicated boarding-schools investigation, that included Merchiston Castle School. The SCAI is chaired by Lady Anne Smith.
Update from the petitioners of PE1979 (to establish an inquiry and independent national whistleblowing office to investigate alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries)
PE1979/QQ: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing office to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies This submission provides background for new committee members and responds to the Scottish Government submission of 19 August 26.
Timeline: The Evolution of Scottish Educational Control and Boarding School Oversight
This timeline traces the development of Scotland’s distinct educational institutions and the gradual expansion of Scottish governmental responsibility and oversight, culminating in the contemporary system of inspection and regulation of independent boarding schools.
Sign the petition! PE1979: Establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to launch an independent inquiry to examine: concerns that allegations about child protection, child abuse, safeguarding, and children’s rights have been mishandled by public bodies, including local authorities and the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS); gaps in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry; and establish an independent national whistleblowing officer for Education and Children’s Services in Scotland to handle these enquiries in the future.
Exclusive: Head of Scotland’s last all-boys school: ‘Teach young men vulnerability’ to counter manosphere
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.”
Boarding school ‘protected abusers’ for six decades, inquiry concludes
A report into the exclusive Merchiston Castle School has concluded that for 60 years, “abusers were protected by tradition”. Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry chairwoman Lady Smith has published her findings on the provision of residential care at the Edinburgh boarding school, concluding that over almost six decades, there was a “more or less continuous line of indecency” from two named perpetrators.
Private school protected abusers for decades—inquiry
A boys-only private school has been criticised for a culture which involved “dreadful abuse” of children almost continuously for six decades. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry report into Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh found that from the 1950s to the second decade of the 21st century, there was a “more or less continuous line of indecency” from two named perpetrators.
‘Dreadful abuse’ at boarding school for boys ‘normalised for generations’
Abuse at a boarding school for boys in Edinburgh was “normalised for generations”, the chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has said. Lady Smith published her findings on Wednesday relating to the provision of residential care for children at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh.
SCAI Boarding Schools case study – Merchiston findings video
Lady Smith delivers the findings about Merchiston Castle School at the release of Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry’s report “Case Study no. 9: Volume 5: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, between 1930 and 2021”
Case Study no. 9: Volume 5: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, between 1930 and 2021
Abuse survivors urge Swinney to remove inquiry judge
A group of survivors who gave evidence on the abuse they suffered at private schools have called on the first minister to dismiss the judge leading the inquiry. Lady Smith, who is chairing the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), has been accused of “thinly veiled favouritism” towards independent schools. The letter, from 28 former pupils, urges John Swinney to remove her from her role.
Former Edinburgh councillor Alison Dickie and whistleblower Christine Scott petition MSPs over child abuse
Former Edinburgh SNP councillor Alison Dickie, together with ex-Labour councillor Bill Cook, whistleblower Christine Scott and former teacher Neil McLennan have lodged a petition at the Scottish Parliament, pressing for a public investigation into the alleged mishandling of unresolved child abuse and child protection concerns; a national whistleblowing officer for education and children’s services; and closure of “serious gaps” in the current Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
Former child abuse inquiry lawyer John Halley faces sex charges
John Halley, 59, was arrested on 15 February after a police search at an address in Caddonfoot, near Galashiels. He was appointed as a lead junior counsel by former inquiry chairwoman Susan O’Brien KC. He worked on the inquiry until October 2016.
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry judge had no power to ban media, court rules
A senior judge was acting beyond her powers to prevent the BBC from fully reporting a £2.6m legal claim against Scotland’s child abuse inquiry, an appeal court has ruled. Lady Smith, chairwoman of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), passed orders stopping detail of an employment tribunal claim being reported. A judicial review of the orders brought by the BBC backed Lady Smith’s move. But the appeal court has now ruled she “had no power” to make the orders.
Boarding school head regrets failings over abuse
The headmaster of a leading boarding school [Jonathan Anderson] has acknowledged that a failure to root out child abuse has had a “profound and damaging” impact on the lives of former pupils. Jonathan Anderson, who took over at £35,00-a-year Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh in 2018, said yesterday that his experience of hearing and giving evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry had taught him that victims remained troubled by their experiences “for ever”.
School let teacher accused of abuse stay for 15 years
One of Scotland’s most prestigious boarding schools failed to discipline an abusive housemaster for 15 years, an inquiry heard yesterday. Andrew Hunter, who became head of Edinburgh’s Merchiston Castle School in 1998, admitted in email exchanges that he had become aware of James Rainy Brown’s actions that year.
Abuse at top school ‘like Lord of the Flies’
Former pupils at a Scottish boarding school have told how they were touched inappropriately and received brutal beatings in scenes akin to Lord of the Flies. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry heard evidence that teachers at Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh, one of the country’s most expensive private schools, mistreated the children.
Inquiry judge right to issue media ban, court rules
A senior judge was right to prevent the BBC from fully reporting a £2.6m legal claim against Scotland’s child abuse inquiry, a court has ruled… Lord Boyd has now ruled that the order covered material that was sensitive and required “to be protected”, and that in those circumstances Lady Smith was able and “bound to make the order”.
Predatory culture is an issue not just for boys, says Merchiston Castle School head
The head of a boys-only independent boarding school has told an inquiry that concerns of a “predatory culture” are an issue for all schools. Jonathan Anderson, headmaster at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, said it was “not fair” to single out boys-only schools over the issue. Giving evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, Anderson said his school had done a “harrowing” review of files and accepted there may have been abuse between 1930, when the school moved to Colinton, and 2014.
Headteacher of £35,000-a-year Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh tells child sex abuse inquiry it’s not fair to blame all-boys’ schools for ‘predatory culture’ among young men
Scottish private schools apologise to former pupils abused in their care
For Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, lawyer, Paul Reid said that, with hindsight, it was clear that warning signs had been missed and “it was clear with at least one former member of staff the dots were never to be joined.” Mr Reid offered the school’s “unreserved apology. The school profoundly regrets and sincerely apologises for the fact that such experiences were endured by some pupils,” he said.
Inquiry judge right to issue media ban, Court of Session hears
A senior judge was right to limit the reporting of a £2.6m legal claim against Scotland’s child abuse inquiry, a court has been told. The BBC is challenging a decision by Lady Smith, chairwoman of the inquiry, to stop details of an employment tribunal against her being aired.
Inquiry judge’s media ban ‘unlawful’, Court of Session hears
A senior judge prevented the BBC from properly reporting a £2.6m legal claim against Scotland’s child abuse inquiry, a court has been told. The Court of Session heard how Lady Smith, chairwoman of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), faced an employment tribunal claim in 2019. Lady Smith passed orders which stopped detail of the action being reported.
Headmasters: Andrew Hunter – SCAI Witness Statement (17 November 2020)
Research: “Trauma narratives: recommendations for investigative interviewing”
This key research paper has been added to the site as it specifically is concerned with effective investigative interviewing of traumatised adult witnesses, explaining how the process is supposed to happen.
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry – boarding schools appeal video
Lady Smith announces the boarding school phase of the Inquiry beginning July 2020. The Inquiry is expected to focus on Fettes College, Gordonstoun School, Keils School in Dumbarton, Loretto School, Merchiston Castle School, Morrison’s Academy during the time it was a boarding school, and the Queen Victoria School in Dunblaine.
Phase 6 Investigation: Provision at Boarding Schools
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry urges former pupils and staff to come forward ahead of boarding schools case study.
Boarding schools become next focus of Scottish Abuse Inquiry
Hearings in 2020 will focus on seven schools including Fettes College, Gordonstoun, Loretto School and Merchiston Castle School. Lady Smith, who leads the inquiry, has urged people affected by abuse in these establishments to contribute evidence. It will come after the current phase on care experiences involving male religious orders.
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry – 2018 TV advert
Short, 30-second 2018 TV advertisement for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI).
Merchiston Pupils: “Mark (CCY)” – SCAI Witness Statement (11 September 2018)
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry Hearings: Phase 6 announcement: Residential child care provision at boarding schools
This announcement provides information about a future Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) case study. Beginning in summer 2020, phase 6 will investigate provision at boarding schools.
Further problems for child abuse inquiry as third member resigns
The last remaining original panel member on the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has resigned, prompting further concerns from abuse survivors that it is in crisis.
Top schools in abuse inquiry
Some of Scotland’s top private schools are being investigated by a national inquiry into child abuse. Gordonstoun–Prince Charles’s former school–and Fettes College, where Tony Blair was a pupil, feature in the statutory probe. Others include Merchiston Castle and Loretto, Scotland’s oldest boarding school. They are among more than 60 residential care establishments identiifed as sites of alleged child abuse or neglect.
Fettes, Gordonstoun, Loretto and Merchiston Castle named among schools being probed in national child abuse inquiry
More than 60 residential care establishments for youngsters are being investigated by the team working on Scotland’s national child abuse inquiry. Lady Smith, the inquiry chairwoman, has revealed they are among more than 100 locations where the abuse of children is alleged to have taken place. Boarding schools, institutions run by religious orders and local authorities are among the establishments being probed.
Two top public schools attended by Prince Charles and Tony Blair are investigated as part of major inquiry into child abuse
Two top public schools attended by Prince Charles and Tony Blair are being investigated by a major national inquiry into child abuse. Gordonstoun, the alma mater of the heir to the throne, and Fettes College – where the former Labour Prime Minister was a pupil – both feature in the statutory probe. Other private schools under investigation include Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Loretto School in Musselburgh and Morrison’s Academy in Crieff.
Top private schools targeted by inquiry into child abuse
A swathe of Scotlandʼs top private schools–including Gordonstoun, Fettes College, Loretto and Merchiston Castle—will be subject to investigations by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
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