Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry publishes fourteenth volume of its case study findings

Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), has today (25 June) published her findings relating to the provision of residential care for children at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh. The findings are part of SCAI’s overall boarding schools case study.

As Lady Smith’s findings show, there were aspects of the boarding provision for children at Merchiston that involved dreadful abuse.

Lady Smith concludes that from the 1950s until into the second decade of the 21st century abusive behaviour perpetrated by two particular teachers became normalised for generations of boys.

Pupils were subjected to various forms of abuse; both the boarding and school environments were ones where abusive practices were perpetrated by members of staff and by other pupils, and these largely went unchecked.

In common with Loretto School, Morrison’s Academy, Gordonstoun, and Queen Victoria School, Lady Smith has found that children who boarded at Merchiston were exposed to risks of suffering sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.

Lady Smith said: ‘From the 1950s to the second decade of the 21st century, there was a more or less continuous line of consistent indecency perpetrated by two prolific abusers, Mervyn Preston and James Rainy Brown.

‘The former taught the latter, who then returned to Merchiston as a teacher, after which they worked together. 

‘They engaged in abusive behaviour which became normalised for generations of boys.

‘In the cases of both those men, their longstanding service and positions of power in boarding houses rendered them virtually untouchable. 

‘In total, eight teachers abused children sexually. Seven of those teachers were male and one was female. 

‘Conduct included voyeurism, encouraging nudity, indecent exposure, indecent assaults, lewd and libidinous practices, and, in the case of the female member of staff, encouraging senior pupils to engage in sexual intercourse with her.’

A lack of school supervision over decades, particularly up to 1980, allowed a bullying culture, often combining violence and emotional abuse, to flourish amongst the boys.

Pupils who were different in some respect and so did not fit the Merchiston mould were vulnerable to being abused, and such children often were abused, particularly by being bullied.

A particular difference that rendered a child vulnerable was a lack of sporting ability. Merchiston was a school with a strong sporting tradition, particularly in rugby, and that made such a child all the more vulnerable.

Abuse could also arise because of social status or physical differences, or between those who had boarded at a prep school, so already knew the boarding system, and those who had not arrived at the school via that route.

Lady Smith said: ‘For decades, differences – particularly those that made children vulnerable – went unnoticed by the school and staff.

‘A “one-size-fits-all” approach was not good enough – not all children did fit and that was not their fault.

‘The Merchiston culture, where toughness in adversity was encouraged, facilitated and exacerbated abuse.’

By the early 2000s, Merchiston thought itself a leader in the child protection field, buoyed by and content to rely on positive but, in fact, inadequate and insufficiently critical inspection reports that failed to identify inherent flaws.

Lady Smith said: ‘All of that fell apart following the suicide of James Rainy Brown, after he had been told he was subject to police investigation.

‘A new inspection regime from 2014, including a wider police inquiry, revealed many longstanding weaknesses in child protection and pastoral care.

‘Policies and their implementation had been unsatisfactory.

‘HR processes had been consistently poor and leadership weak although well intended.

‘Concerning behaviour had been recorded, but obvious abusive trends, or potential trends, were repeatedly missed. References were badly handled and child protection concerns ignored.

‘Abusers, and potential abusers, were sometimes protected by tradition, long  service, or governor loyalty.’

Following a negative inspection report, Merchiston was made subject to special measures by the Scottish Government.

It responded to that report and the imposition of special measures – as it had to do – and was well led in that by its board of governors. Policies were revised and became meaningful.

The school learned that an appetite for continual improvement is necessary. 

Merchiston apologised for the abuse experienced by children entrusted into its care.

Lady Smith said: ‘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.’