A leading independent school was once ‘a cesspit of sadism and paedophilia’, survivors have claimed.
The focus of the latest phase of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), which started yesterday, will focus on Edinburgh Academy.
On the opening day of the latest hearings, the EA Survivors Group stated its membership was ‘the tip of a very big iceberg’. Its ‘40-odd’ members, who all suffered abuse between the years of 1960 and 2000, include broadcaster Nicky Campbell, who has previously spoken of his time at the school.
Group spokesman Giles Moffatt said: ‘Let there be no doubt, the Edinburgh Academy was once a cesspit of sadism and paedophilia.
‘Past headmasters and governors have been oblivious, indifferent and downright callous about what happened on their watch. Our little group of 40-odd is the tip of a very big iceberg, which is why we are looking to this inquiry to look into the history without fear or favour.’
The Edinburgh Academy hearings follow similar inquiries into other leading Scottish schools including Fettes College and Loretto.
The latest phase of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), which started yesterday, will focus on Edinburgh Academy
The ‘40-odd’ members of the EA Survivors Group, who all suffered abuse between the years of 1960 and 2000, include broadcaster Nicky Campbell, who has previously spoken of his time at the school
The broadcaster, (pictured as a child) is one member of the EA Survivors Group
The Edinburgh Academy hearings follow similar inquiries into other leading Scottish schools including Fettes College (pictured) and Loretto
Mr Moffatt added: ‘We feel for those who gave evidence at similar hearings before us. Many went in blind and had limited power against the institutions which let them down.
‘We would like to thank Police Scotland and the Crown Office for the decisive action they are taking. We also recognise that the Edinburgh Academy of today is a considerably better place than years gone by.’
The SCAI has been investigating the provision of residential care for children at boarding schools for a number of years.
Evidence about Fettes College was heard in 2021, when some witnesses also spoke about Edinburgh Academy. That evidence was not considered in detail.
SCAI chairman Lady Smith said: ‘After we completed our evidential hearings, a significant number of applicants and other witnesses came forward to provide evidence of their experiences at the Edinburgh Academy. So many that I decided their evidence needed to be explored in another set of public hearings.’
More than 30 witnesses will be heard and over 20 witness statements will be read out.
In a previous statement, Edinburgh Academy said it ‘deeply’ regrets what happened in previous decades and ‘wholeheartedly’ apologised to those involved. It said it has ‘robust measures in place to safeguard children at the school’.
