Fettes College found to have 'wholly failed' pupils during decades of abuse

Lady Smith's report for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry says pupils at Fettes College were sexually, physically and emotionally abused across several decades and were "wholly failed" by the school; Fettes has issued an unreserved apology and said its current welfare culture is very different. Extradition proceedings are ongoing for one alleged perpetrator living in South Africa.

Lady Smith of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has published a report finding that Fettes College failed pupils over several decades. The report states children were sexually, physically and emotionally abused from the 1950s into later decades and that racism and a sexualised culture persisted into the late 20th century. Fettes College has apologised unreservedly and says the school's current approach to safety and welfare is unrecognisable from the past. The inquiry forms part of a wider boarding schools case study and considers evidence up to December 17, 2014. What the inquiry report says: - The inquiry chair concluded that pupils were "wholly failed" and that many could have been protected if complaints had been listened to and acted upon. - The report records sexual, physical and emotional abuse by staff and by other pupils across multiple decades. - The report finds that racist behaviour was normalised into the 1990s and that girls were treated as second-class citizens after co-education began. - Fettes has apologised; the report notes recent positive inspection findings, and extradition proceedings are ongoing for one accused individual currently in South Africa. Summary: The report documents long-term institutional failings at Fettes and says victims continue to suffer the consequences. The report has been published, the school has apologised, and legal processes including extradition proceedings for a named alleged perpetrator are ongoing.