Edinburgh Academy pupils suffered decades of 'dreadful abuse'

Lady Smith, who chairs the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), details more than 40 years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at the school in her latest report. The inquiry heard claims of historical abuse against 20 teaching staff at the private school, with most of the evidence covering the years between 1954 and 1995. Nearly 50 witnesses gave evidence, including broadcaster Nicky Campbell - who said one teacher had abused children on an "industrial scale".

Publishing her findings, former judge Lady Smith said the school had "failed to look at itself through a realistic and critical lens" for decades. "When it did, the school could not accept that it had happened, failed to address it, and failed to recognise the risk of it continuing. Complacency was the order of the day.

"When complaints were made, they were either disbelieved or left unresolved.