One of Scotland’s top independent boarding schools has been rocked by allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving a member of staff.
A senior teacher at Loretto School in Musselburgh, East Lothian, the oldest boarding school in Scotland, has been suspended following what the headmaster has confirmed are ‘deeply disturbing’ allegations.
The police and Care Inspectorate have been informed, and an investigation into claims linked to the teacher’s alleged behaviour is now underway.
Details of the precise nature of the complaint have not yet been confirmed, and investigations into the allegations are believed to be at an early stage.
However headteacher Dr Graham Hawley has said they relate to behaviour which is not tolerated at the school.
Loretto School is one of Scotland’s leading fee-paying schools, where parents pay up to £33,600 a year to board senior pupils.
It regularly receives top ratings and is particularly renowned for its drama, music, art and sport.
Headmaster, Dr Graham Hawley said: “As Headmaster and as a parent, I am deeply disturbed by these allegations and I take them very seriously.
“The alleged behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in our community. It is everything that we are not.
“As soon as the allegations were brought to us we took action: we alerted the police, we alerted the Care Inspectorate, we instigated an internal investigation, we suspended the member of staff in question.
“The school has undertaken extensive work to ensure it is as safe an environment as it is possible for a school to be. We have built a culture in which pupils can feel empowered to come forward, to seek and find the support they need in situations like this.”
Loretto School is one of the country’s top private schools, with parents paying up to £33,600 a year to board senior children at its 85 acre leafy campus, which features its own golf academy. Around 400 boys and girls attend Loretto Senior School, with around 70 per cent opting to board.
A further 200 attend the Junior School, while the nursery caters for children from birth to five years old.
Former pupils at the school, which was founded in 1827, include broadcaster Andrew Marr, former Chancellors of the Exchequer Norman Lamont and Alistair Darling and motor racing legend Jim Clarke. Movie director Don Boyd, whose films have included Scum, Look Back in Anger and The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle, is also a former pupil at the school.
Last year’s Tatler Schools Guide placed Loretto School in the top seven per cent nationally and singled out the “spectacular dance and drama” studio for particular praise.
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate confirmed a probe is underway. He said: “We have been notified by the Loretto School of an allegation involving a member of staff.
“We are working closely with the school. Anyone with a concern about a care service can contact us on 0345 600 9527.”
Dr Hawley added: “Given the sensitivities of this situation, the investigation, and involvement of the authorities, I am limited in what more I can say; however, I am committed to ensuring that Loretto is a school where no behaviour of this alleged kind will ever be tolerated.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel