Inquiry finds Gordonstoun pupils were abused over decades with "no interest in child protection"

Children at the King's former school were abused over a long period of time with an "extremely violent culture" in some boarding houses, an inquiry has found.

Lady Smith, chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), published her findings relating to the provision of residential care for children at Gordonstoun, Moray, and its associated junior school, Aberlour, earlier today.

She concludes that children who boarded at both establishments were exposed to risks of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and that for many, those risks materialised.

Factors including failures to prioritise child protection; a lack of effective child protection systems; staff without appropriate skills and training; poor recruitment policies; insufficient oversight of pupils and teachers; and failures in governance are all found to have contributed.

Lady Smith said: "I have no difficulty in finding that children were abused at Gordonstoun and Aberlour in a variety of ways over a long period of time."

She said: "It was only after 1990 and the appointment of a headmaster who understood the importance of pastoral care that abuse eventually began to be addressed and a measure of trust was restored.

"A dreadfully abusive and, in some houses, extremely violent culture was allowed to take root. Abuse was also perpetrated by staff.

"The evidence of abuse was clear from the accounts of many applicants.

“Similarly, at Aberlour, the 1960s to 1990s were marked by a similar culture of assumption and naivety, exacerbated by the long and unchallenged leadership.”

“There was a significant failure of governance with no interest in child protection or pastoral care until the 1990s.”

Report is "shocking an upsetting" - Gordonstoun Principal

In an open letter current Gordonstoun Principal Lisa Kerr, writing jointly with Chair of Governors, David White, offered a heartfelt and sincere apology to all those who suffered at the school.

She said: "Today’s report is upsetting, and it is shocking to read of the abuse that children in the past experienced and the enduring impact on their lives 30, 40 or even 50 years later.

“We respect and thank those who have spoken up about their experiences and those who gave evidence to the Inquiry.

"The lack of care and the abuse they experienced, which the Inquiry identifies as being mainly in ‘the period from the 1970s to the early 1990s’ reflects that, as Lady Smith states: ‘There have been periods in Gordonstoun’s history where the vision and ethos that formed the basis of Kurt Hahn‘s founding of the school was allowed to wither’.

"Those who were abused deserved better, and we are sorry they were so badly let down.

"Since reports of historic abuse came to our attention in 2013, we have taken a proactive approach, addressing matters openly and offering whatever support possible.

"We have reached out repeatedly to our alumni expressing our sadness and concern, offering our support and encouraging anyone affected to contact the police and, once it was set up, the Inquiry."

The SCAI covers the period within living memory of any person who suffered such abuse, up until December 17th 2014.

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