At some point during this investigative archive project, it occurred to me that it would be important to include all existing Merchiston Castle School inspection reports. This would allow us to see what kinds of bodies inspected and inspect the school, what archived historical inspection material is available for different eras, and what the inspection bodies had to say about the school during what we now know—through hindsight—were its darkest days. This was not to be a simple task.
Today, the [Scottish Parliament’s] Public Petitions Committee supported PE1979 by keeping it open and agreeing actions to progress our petition’s calls.
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.
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.
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.
