Latest news with #GarethBaird
Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Telegraph
Edinburgh school ‘protected' abusers for decades
Merchiston Castle School, which charges annual fees of up to £50,000, issued an 'unreserved apology', with headmaster Jonathan Anderson and Gareth Baird, chairman of the board of governors, describing Lady Smith's report as 'detailed, fair and, at times, a difficult read'. They added: 'It uncovers a history of unacceptable abuse suffered by many former pupils and highlights the enduring impact on their lives decades later. 'To all those who suffered abuse while in the care of Merchiston Castle School, we offer our most sincere and unreserved apology. No child should ever suffer harm, especially not in a place that exists to nurture and educate. Those who were abused by their teachers or their fellow pupils deserved better, and we are truly sorry that they were so badly let down.' The report said indecency occurred from the 1950s to the 2010s, however Lady Smith said that 'by the early 2000s, Merchiston thought itself a leader in the child protection field'. Abusers protected by 'tradition' Lady Smith said that 'references were badly handled and child protection concerns ignored', while voyeurism and indecent assaults were common. She added: 'Abusers, and potential abusers, were sometimes protected by tradition, long service, or governor loyalty.' The findings, part of the inquiry's overall boarding schools case study, found that 'in common with Loretto School, Morrison's Academy, Gordonstoun, and Queen Victoria School, children who boarded at Merchiston were exposed to risks of suffering sexual, physical and emotional abuse'. Lady Smith concluded the two main perpetrators at Merchiston were 'virtually untouchable'. Normalised abusive behaviour She said: 'From the 1950s to the second decade of the 21st century, there was a more or less continuous line of consistent indecency perpetrated by two prolific abusers, Mervyn Preston and James Rainy Brown. 'The former taught the latter, who then returned to Merchiston as a teacher, after which they worked together. 'They engaged in abusive behaviour which became normalised for generations of boys. 'In the cases of both those men, their longstanding service and positions of power in boarding houses rendered them virtually untouchable. 'In total, eight teachers abused children sexually. Seven were male and one was female. 'Conduct included voyeurism, encouraging nudity, indecent exposure, indecent assaults, and in the case of the female, it included encouraging senior pupils to engage in sexual intercourse with her.' 'Obvious abusive trends' She said the school's strong culture of rugby and sport left those who did not fit in vulnerable to abuse and bullying. She said by the millennium, the school was 'content to rely on positive but, in fact, inadequate and insufficiently critical' inspections, while 'obvious abusive trends' were missed – until 2014 when a wider police inquiry revealed many longstanding weaknesses in child protection and pastoral care. Following a poor inspection report in 2015, Merchiston was made subject to special measures by the Scottish government. It was obliged to respond, and Lady Smith said it was 'well led by its board of governors', and policies 'were corrected and became meaningful'. 'Deep and lasting harm' Mr Anderson and Mr Baird added: 'That sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children at our school was allowed to continue for so long is deeply upsetting and we respect and we thank our former pupils who had the courage and bravery to speak about their experiences in evidence to the inquiry. 'Their collective testimonies painted a picture of a school that fostered a culture of fear, bullying and abuse that is hard to fathom, and unrecognisable with the school that exists today. 'We fully accept these criticisms, we acknowledge these failures, and we recognise the deep and lasting harm that was caused. The school is wholeheartedly committed to ensuring the lessons of the past are fully learned. 'Safeguarding is our number one priority and the wellbeing of the young people in our care is of paramount importance to us. 'Following a negative inspection report in 2015, Merchiston was placed under special measures by the Scottish Government. This was a turning point and as Lady Smith recognises in her report, we responded promptly and decisively.'
Scotsman
02-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh boys school appoints seasoned CEO as new Chair
Business leader brings global expertise to prestigious school Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A seasoned hospitality leader has been appointed the next Chairman of the Board of Governors of one of Edinburgh's most prestigious independent schools. Robert Cook takes up the role this month following a formal interview process and having been appointed to the Board of Merchiston Castle School in March 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He brings more than 30 years' experience at the helm of some of the UK's largest leisure and hospitality businesses with leadership roles including CEO of Hotel du Vin & Malmaison, CEO of De Vere Hotels, and UK CEO of Virgin Active. Merchiston Castle School Originally from Aberdeen, he holds an honorary doctorate from Robert Gordon University for his contribution to the hotel industry and owns The Cookie Jar, a luxury boutique hotel in Alnwick, Northumberland. He will succeed Gareth Baird, who has held the role of Chairman since 2014 and will complete his 11-year tenure at the end of the academic year on June 27. Gareth Baird, outgoing Chairman of the Board of Governors at Merchiston, said: 'As a parent and a new governor to the Board, Robert has quickly demonstrated his passion for the school, as well as strong business acumen to drive Merchiston forward in this new chapter. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As a Merchistonian myself, I am extremely proud of the work we have achieved over the past decade including the refurbishment of our boarding houses, launching The Forest nursery and junior school, as well as the recent introduction of our new day fee. Merchiston is an outstanding school and I'm delighted to hand over the reins to Robert as we also welcome our new Head, Huw Jones in August.' Robert B. Cook will take over as Merchiston Castle School's new Chair of the Board Commenting on his appointment, Robert Cook said: 'It is an absolute privilege to support an institution with such a proud heritage and ambitious future. 'I've built my career by recognising talent and nurturing excellence, and I see those same qualities in abundance throughout Merchiston. This role is about ensuring we continue to successfully navigate the external headwinds the independent school sector has faced in recent years and evolve to meet the demands of tomorrow.' Mr Cook also holds advisory and board positions with Dobbies Garden Centres, Terra Firma Capital Partners, supporting its German hotel group, Welcome Hotels and Imbiba, the growth hospitality platform. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This appointment follows the recent announcement of a new Head, Huw Jones, who joins Merchiston in August 2025. Founded in Edinburgh in 1828, Merchiston Castle School is Scotland's only all-boys independent day and boarding school. Dedicated to holistic student development with its coeducational nursery and junior school, The Forest, for children aged 3-9, as well as its unique educational approach for boys aged 9-18, which celebrates individual potential and encourages them to pursue excellence with passion and purpose.
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
New day offering added at Edinburgh boys' school
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Scotland's only all-boys' independent boarding and day school has introduced a new day pupil option, offering families greater choice and a pricing structure that prioritises clarity, transparency and value. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The existing wraparound care option available at Merchiston Castle School for day boys, now known as 'Day Plus' remains unchanged, offering a full day of lessons, co-curricular activities, wraparound care until 9pm, and two hot meals – an offering which has proven popular with busy, working families. Now, a new 'Day' option is being introduced that covers the core academic school day (8am to 4.30pm) and lunch, priced at £24,000 per annum. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unlike many other independent schools, the quoted price is all-inclusive, with no additional charges for lunch or other standard services, providing full transparency and removing the burden of hidden extras often found elsewhere in the sector. Gareth Baird, Chairman, Merchiston Castle School The new 'Day' structure has been created in direct response to the changing financial pressures facing families in 2025, including the introduction of VAT on school fees and wider inflationary challenges. In addition, a new flexible boarding package has been introduced giving families a two-night boarding option. Gareth Baird, Chairman of the Board of Governors, welcomes the move as an important step in ensuring the school remains accessible to a broad range of families. He said: 'Merchiston has a long-standing reputation for excellence in both education and character development. By expanding our day offering, we are responding to the wider challenges following the introduction of VAT and rising inflation this year, while demonstrating that as a business we are agile and responsive to the needs of our families, both existing and prospective. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The introduction of a flexible day offering is a natural evolution for the school. It ensures we continue to provide the highest quality education while recognising the diverse and changing needs of families. Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh has introduced a new day offering 'We want to ensure that more families can benefit from the exceptional education and sporting facilities available across our 100 acre campus, and with class sizes averaging around 16 students, we believe our new day proposition will be very attractive to local families.' Founded nearly 200 years ago, the introduction of this new structure reflects the school's ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of modern families, while maintaining the highest standard of academic excellence, pastoral care and co-curricular activities. The school's boarding provision, for which it is renowned, will remain unchanged, with Merchiston continuing to offer a vibrant and nurturing environment for students who choose to board. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Founded in Edinburgh in 1833, Merchiston Castle School is Scotland's only all-boys independent day and boarding school. It focuses on providing a transformative educational experience that nurtures young men to become confident, compassionate, and accomplished individuals. For more information about Merchiston, visit:
