Gordonstoun abuse flourished for decades

Child abuse at Gordonstoun School – where the future King Charles was educated – was allowed to go unchecked for decades, the government has found.

Lady Smith, chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), has published his findings to residential care for children at Moray school and the associated secondary school, Aberlour.

They concluded that children entering both companies were at risk of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse — and that many of those risks actually happened.

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

The school has apologized to anyone it offended in its care.

Lady Smith said factors contributing to abuse included failing to prioritize child protection and inadequate supervision of students and teachers.

Gordonstoun was founded in 1934 by a German Jewish educator, Kurt Hahn, after he fled the Nazis. The goal is to create good citizens, with a focus on life skills and service as much as academic achievement.

“It is considered that the declaration of goodwill by the founder Kurt Hahn is sufficient to ensure that the school can be entrusted to provide appropriate residential care,” said Lady Smith.

“At Gordonstoun, that assumption is unfounded, largely due to poor leadership.”

He continued: “It was only after 1990 and the appointment of a principal who understood the importance of pastoral care that the abuse finally began to be addressed and a measure of trust was restored.

“A horrible violent and, in some houses, a very violent culture is allowed to take root.

“Abuse was also committed by staff. Evidence of abuse is clear from the accounts of many applicants.”

Lady Smith said there was a similar culture of “assumption and naivety” at Aberlour from the 1960s to the 1990s.

He said this was exacerbated by his long and unchallenged leadership at the school.

“There was a government failure that had no interest in child protection or pastoral care until the 1990s,” he added.

Lady Smith highlighted the case of former Gordonstoun teacher Andrew Keir.

Keir already imprisoned for one year in 2018 for lewd acts involving students in swimming sessions.

The former physics teacher was described as a “predatory pedophile” by Lady Smith.

“In the guise of being friendly and caring, he groomed the boy with a view to satisfy his sexual desire,” she said.

“The children are aware of their behavior. The school is also aware but fails to act.”

He said there were six other teachers who abused children between the 1960s and 1990s.

Gordonstoun said there was a “sincere and sincere apology to all those who have been hurt at the school”.

Headteacher Lisa Kerr, in an open letter, said: “Today’s report is disturbing, and shocking to read about the abuse children have suffered in the past and the impact it has on their lives 30, 40 or even 50 years later.

“We appreciate and thank those who have spoken about their experiences and those who have given evidence to the Inquiry.

“Since reports of historical abuse came to light in 2013, we have taken a proactive approach, addressing the issue openly and providing support where possible.

“Lady Smith acknowledges Gordonstoun’s recognition of the need not to bury our heads in the sand, to acknowledge the reality of past abuse, and to respond.”

The statement added: “We must not be satisfied; instead, we always seek to learn and improve. This is no more than the children we care for today, and the least we can do is to respect the survivors who gave their testimony. for today’s important report this.”

One former student, John Findlay, had gone before called Gordonstoun to set up a trust to help people who suffer from abuse access mental health care.

Mr Findlay, who waived his right to anonymity, said the boarding school should be held responsible for the abuse he and others suffered at Aberlour House.

She told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry she was sexually abused by a teacher in 1990 when she was 12.

At the time it was considered a prep school for Gordonstoun. The schools were then merged.

He told BBC Scotland News that the inquiry’s decision was “case closed and it’s a very positive outcome I believe for us”.

“I think it’s a testament to the courage of people who will talk about something that was very traumatic in their past and may affect their lives in the future,” he said.

But he added: “I understand that the victims of Andrew Keir, six years after his criminal conviction, still have not received civil compensation. Six years ago, nothing was done by Gordonstoun insurance.

Asked why the case had not been resolved, Gordonstoun headteacher Lisa Kerr said: “I’m sorry, I can’t speak to any legal cases that the school’s insurance company may be dealing with.”

Earlier this year, King Charles became patron of Gordonstoun Association, a role previously held by his father Prince Philip, who also attended the school.

This marked the King’s first official relationship with the institution, which he attended from 1962 to 1967.

In a letter from his school year, he wrote that he did not enjoy his time at Gordonstoun and struggled to cope with the difficult environment. He has, however, often played this down since.

During a House of Lords speech in 1975, he said: “It’s only difficult because it requires more of you than other schools – mentally or physically.

“I’m lucky because I believe it taught me a great deal about myself and my own abilities and lack of abilities. It taught me to accept challenges and take initiative.”