Scotland’s most elite private schools are under renewed scrutiny after the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry concluded that Fettes College in Edinburgh systematically failed to protect pupils from decades of sexual and physical abuse.
The inquiry found that children at Fettes College were subjected to widespread abuse by teachers and fellow pupils from the 1950s through to the late 1980s. The failures, the report said, were not isolated incidents but reflected a culture in which complaints were ignored and known abusers were allowed to remain in positions of authority.
Inquiry chair Lady Smith said children “were wholly failed by the school” and that many of the abuses could have been prevented if early warnings had been acted upon. Survivors, she said, continue to live with the trauma more than half a century later.
Senior Staff Accused of Protecting Abusers
Lady Smith named former headmaster Anthony Chenevix-Trench, who led Fettes from 1971 until his death in 1979, as having protected members of staff he knew had abused children. She said he had been appointed despite serious concerns raised by Eton College, where he had previously worked, including excessive corporal punishment and alcohol problems.
The inquiry also focused on former teacher Iain Wares, who is now subject to extradition proceedings from South Africa. Wares, who taught in Edinburgh schools before joining Fettes, was described as a “prolific abuser” who preyed on young boys and carried out both sexual assaults and violent physical punishments. The inquiry criticised senior medical staff at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for failing to prioritise child protection when concerns about his behaviour were raised.
Culture of Silence, Misogyny and Racism
The report also highlighted emotional abuse between pupils and said misogynistic behaviour became widespread after the school became co-educational in the early 1980s. Racism was also found to have persisted well into the 21st century, pointing to deep-rooted cultural problems beyond the historic abuse cases.
Fettes College, founded in 1870 and set in 300 acres in north Edinburgh, counts former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair among its alumni. The findings form part of the wider Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry into residential and boarding schools across the country.
School Issues Formal Apology
The board of governors issued an unreserved apology to survivors, acknowledging that staff actions “fell far below” acceptable standards. Lady Morag Wise, chair of the governors, said safeguarding today bears “no resemblance” to past practices and cited positive inspections by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate in 2025. She pledged that failures identified by the inquiry would never be repeated.
Legal representatives for survivors said the findings confirmed that children had been knowingly exposed to teachers with histories of abuse and that the school had failed in its basic duty of care.
National Inquiry into Institutional Abuse
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, established in 2015, is examining how public, private and voluntary institutions failed to protect children in residential care and boarding environments. Its work has already led to significant policy changes in safeguarding, reporting obligations and oversight of independent schools across Scotland.