Gordonstoun’s abuse flourished unchecked for decades, the investigation found

An investigation has found that child abuse at Gordonstoun School, where the future King Charles was educated, could have continued unchecked for decades.

Lady Smith, chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), has published her findings on residential care for children at Moray School and its associated Aberlour Primary School.

She concluded that children accommodated in both facilities were at risk of sexual, physical and emotional violence and that for many of them these risks had materialized.

Lady Smith said: “I have no difficulty in saying that in Gordonstoun and Aberlour children have been victims of violence in various ways over a long period of time.”

The school apologized to anyone who experienced violence while in its care.

Lady Smith said factors that led to the harassment included a failure to prioritize child protection and inadequate supervision of students and teachers.

Gordonstoun was founded in 1934 by German Jewish educator Kurt Hahn after escaping from the Nazis. His goal was to create well-rounded citizens who focused on life skills and service as much as academic achievement.

“It was assumed that founder Kurt Hahn’s declaration of good intentions would be sufficient to ensure that the school could provide adequate care in a residential facility,” Lady Smith said.

“At Gordonstoun the assumption proved to be unfounded, largely due to poor leadership.”

She continued: “It was only after 1990 and the appointment of a director who understood the importance of pastoral care that attention finally began to be drawn to the abuse and a degree of trust was restored.

“A horribly abusive and, in some homes, extremely brutal culture has been allowed to take root.

“Employees also committed abuse. “The evidence of abuse was clear in the testimony of many of the applicants.”

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

She said this situation was exacerbated by the school’s long and unchallenged leadership.

“By the 1990s there had been significant management failures due to a lack of attention to child protection and pastoral care,” she added.

“Never become complacent”

Gordonstoun said he offered his “heartfelt and sincere apologies to everyone who was harmed at the school.”

The open letter said: “Today’s report is depressing and it is shocking to read about the abuse children have experienced in the past and the lasting impact it has on their lives 30, 40 and even 50 years later.

“We respect and thank those who spoke about their experiences and those who gave evidence to the inquiry.

“Since we received reports of past abuse in 2013, we have taken a proactive approach, dealing openly with matters and offering all the support we can.

“Lady Smith recognizes that Gordonstoun has recognized the need to avoid burying its head in the sand, acknowledge the reality of past violence and respond.”

The school added: “We must never become complacent; instead, we always strive to learn and improve. This is no more than the children in our care deserve, and it is the least we can do to honor the survivors whose testimony led to today’s important report.”

One former student, John Findlay, has already called on Gordonstoun to set up a fund to help victims of violence access mental health treatment.

Findlay, who waived his right to anonymity, said the boarding school should take responsibility for the abuse he and others suffered at Aberlour House.

Findlay told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry that in 1990, at the age of 12, he experienced sexual abuse by a teacher.

At the time it was considered a preparatory school for Gordonstoun. The schools later merged.

“Accept challenges”

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

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

In his letters from his school years, he wrote that he did not like his time at Gordonstoun and could not cope with the difficult conditions. However, since then he has often downplayed the issue.

During a speech in the House of Lords in 1975, he said: ‘It was difficult only in the sense that it demanded more of you as an individual than most other schools – mentally and physically.

“I’m lucky because I think it taught me a lot about myself, my abilities and my disabilities. It taught me to accept challenges and take initiative.”