Top school ‘is kept in the dark’ by child abuse inquiry

THE rector of a top private school which is under investigation for child abuse allegations has said an official inquiry has yet to tell him what the claims are about.

In a letter to former pupils, Gareth Warren, head of Morrison’s Academy, confirmed that he had been contacted by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI).

But he said that staff at the school in Crieff, Perthshire, ‘are not aware of the nature of any complaint relating to Morrison’s Academy’.

SCAI officials are still deciding which schools will be brought before public hearings, due to start next summer.

Last month, it published a list of feepaying schools which are under investigation – including Morrison’s – but not all of them will be summoned to appear before public ‘case study’ hearings. Gordonstoun, Prince Charles’s former school, and Fettes College, where Tony Blair was a pupil, are under scrutiny, as are Merchiston Castle and Loretto, Scotland’s oldest boarding school.

In his letter, Mr Warren said: ‘The school has not received any direct complaint and we are not aware of the nature of any complaint relating to Morrison’s Academy. We have and will continue to support the important work of the SCAI during the next phase.’

An SCAI spokesman said: ‘While all evidence gathered by the inquiry will be considered as part of its work, not every institution investigated will be featured in a case study.

‘If an institution is selected to form part of a case study, any allegations made against them are shared in advance of the public hearings.

‘The inquiry continues to take evidence from survivors and other witnesses and we would encourage anyone with relevant information to get in touch.’