She also had a stint working for Scottish Opera and even met Queen Elizabeth II. Merchiston is a remarkable School where boys make lifelong friends and community connections, whilst gaining a world-class, global, outward-looking education. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry heard evidence that teachers at Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh, one of the countrys most expensive private schools, mistreated the children. ', Mr Johnston replied: 'Voicing an opinion which makes anyone feel less accepted is intolerable. 18:06 GMT 08 Feb 2021. The teacher took his own life in 2013 amid a police investigation for making inappropriate comments to boys during his 52-year career at the school. The 11-minute exercise scientists say cuts cancer, stroke and heart disease risks. [8] The former 1st XV coach, Frank Hadden, who was at the school from 1983-2000, was the head coach of the Scottish national team from 2005-2009. Tributes paid to 'formidable' Scots community stalwart who lost battle with cancer. Something went wrong, please try again later. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. Employee left baffled after boss was 'livid' he didn't give her his first class flight upgrade. A spokesman for Mr Brown's family said: 'This is simply a tragedy. Some of Scotland's most prestigious private schools have offered "unreserved" apologies to former pupils who were abused while in their care. Charity Number SC016580 | Privacy Policy | Legal, All You Need to know about Boarding (FAQs), Tom's cricket journey from Merchiston to the Scotland Team. Whether it's the bible or the quran. A truly historical . One of the pupils stated that you had to "accept there was a form of corruption" alongside the school behaving "in whatever manner pleased it" and that "staff did 'nothing whatsoever' to help pupils". 'We are 100 per cent confident that, when the police have finished their work, his name will be cleared - but that won't bring him back and we miss him terribly.'. Two men have been charged in connection with allegations of historical abuse at one of Scotland's top independent schools. Merchiston: Private Boys Boarding School in Edinburgh Learn more about Merchiston, Scotland's only all-boys independent boarding school, giving boys ages 7 to 18 an education that allows them to flourish. The main entrance to Merchiston School, Edinburgh. Dr John Johnston Rogerson, headmaster from 1863-1898 and owner from 1863-1896 when it became a public school rather than privately-owned in 1896. He said: 'I still hold the views expressed in the 'offending' video and I will continue to articulate these views regularly and publicly as I see fit. 'Huge tragedy in my mind! Mother of Oxford sex gang pair blames their victims: She Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' ', 'James' death has come as a tremendous blow to the entire school population.'. The latest phase of the investigation looks at allegations of abuse at Merchiston Castle School, which is one of the most exclusive schools in Scotland. The allegations at the all-boys school date back to the 1960s. The allegations at the all-boys school date back to the 1960s. According to state test scores, 42% of students are at least proficient in math and 42% in reading. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. A spokesman for the school said: 'The events of the past fortnight have been extremely traumatic for everyone associated with Merchiston Castle. A teacher who exposed himself to boys at a top Edinburgh private school is scheduled to give evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry next week. Yesterday the GTCS accepted a removal with consent order from the teacher who admitted the charges and agreed to be struck off. It has 645 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. 894646. Merchiston Castle School teacher James Rainy Brown, 75, hanged himself at home in Colinton, Edinburgh after claims of inappropriate conduct A veteran teacher at a private school for boys. Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress. 16:58 GMT 08 Feb 2021 Toxic trauma expert Gabor Mate diagnoses Prince Harry with attention deficit disorder but tells him it CAN 'I felt different to the rest of my family - and my mum felt the same': Prince Harry opens up on his 'broken Hollywood's love affair with the new non-binary Brit Pack: After MeToo sex scandals, Tinseltown is desperate Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. MIS is the first and only international school in Shenzhen providing a British education and boarding system. Richard Lucas, a physics teacher at 35,000-per-year Merchiston. Our Merchiston Sports Desk reports on the MCS V Dollar Academy rugby fixture last weekend. ', Mr Lucas then quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church to which legal advisor Gareth Jones interrupted, saying: 'The purpose of the witness is not to descend into personal attacks during cross examination. There are currently no proceedings but the Crown reserves the right to raise proceedings should further evidence become available.. The head of a boys boarding school last night apologised after a former teacher was struck off for having sex with pupils. 'That same sex parenting is inferior to, and is of less value, than heterosexual parenting and should be discouraged as it is harmful to children. The Duke of Sussex made the comments at an online event which cost 17 plus a 2.12 fee for UK customers to attend. [9] Merchiston also participates, with the Edinburgh Academy, in the oldest continuous rugby football fixture in the world, the first being on 11 December 1858 at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. Merchiston International School in Shenzhen, Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer, Category:People educated at Merchiston Castle School, "Merchiston and Glenalmond. More info. Merchiston Castle School Details Type of school: Boys | Senior school with a junior department or a prep school Nearest international airport: Edinburgh (8km) Age Range: 7-18 Number of pupils: 400 Number of boarders: 256 Fees per term - Boarding: 7,650 - 12,440 Fees per term -Day: 5,310 - 9,030 School Information B. Meet our community. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is there one Do YOU know your Adam and Eve from your Ruby Murray? Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. ', Speaking today to the panel, Mr Lucas said: 'I admit to making the comments - I do not think that I am unfit to teach.'. In our experience we have seen the benefits of naming an alleged offender of a sexual offence. 'But then the statistical jiggery pokery kicks in and by controlling for one thing or another eventually you can make those effects disappear and claim that the children turn out just as well. 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Michelle Davidson has started her pet walking/sitting business this week as a side hustle. It is from here that the school name is derived. Mr Hunter said: 'His wide and varied interests, his unflagging energy and his unmatched commitment to the life of the school over the following 52 years are the stuff of legend.'. The 'historic' claims were deemed credible enough by Police Scotland to begin an investigation, which is still technically ongoing despite Mr Brown's death. Merchiston was awarded the British Council International School Award (Foundation Level) for our international programme. By playing up a fake tabloid scandal involving his progressive opponent Jessica Cisneros, the scandal-plagued anti-abortion Texas House Democrat Henry Cuellar has only further disgraced himself. . Patricia Kopta, then 52, was declared dead in the US after she disappeared from her Pittsburgh home in 1992. 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In an online tribute, Mr Hunter said the news that 'JRB' - as the teacher was affectionately known - had died was 'a tremendous blow to the entire Merchiston Castle community'. Located in Longhua District in the north of Shenzhen city, MIS provides At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. The teacher was accused of knowingly wearing a pair of trousers with a large hole in the crotch and sitting with his legs wide open and exposing his genitals. Police Scotland -confirmed officers quizzed the woman in November 2015 and sent a report to the procurator fiscal. Sexual abuse charity The Survivors Trust criticised the decision. Whilst our 1XI squad travels to South Africa for their pre-season tour, Gary Heatly caught up with Merchistonian Tom Mackintosh to find out more about his cricket career, from Merchiston to the Scotland Squad. Sign up to our daily newsletter here. Andrew Hunter, headmaster of Merchiston Castle School, told the Sunday Herald newspaper: "We have been offering every possible assistance to Police Scotland as it investigates these historical allegations. Exclusive: Scottish Labour blasted the Scottish Government for their inaction in trying to get rid of dangerous Grenfell-styling cladding on buildings across the country. Tracey van Alphen-Read went from dancing at a music festival to being told she had a grade three tumour in her breast in a matter of weeks. A Scottish private school teacher is facing being struck off after slamming Ruth Davidson for having a 'fatherless child'. Bachelor James Rainy Brown, 75, who had worked for 52 years at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, hanged himself at his home shortly after being told of the investigation. Read about our approach to external linking. According to The Herald,. [3] In 1930 the school moved to Colinton. A spokeswoman said: In our experience we have seen the benefits of naming an alleged offender of a sexual offence as it allows other people whove witnessed this teachers behaviour and indeed other victims to come forward and inform police. Our values are to be accepting. Angela Grahame QC said there had been flaws which allowed "despicable abuse" to take place and said it acknowledged that it had let down the victims. Our mission is to provide a caring community for your son, which treats him as anindividual, unearths and nurtureshis talents, encourages him to pursue excellence in all he doesand enables him to flourish. Read about our approach to external linking. See if you can imagine him here. It is understood the claims involved lewd and inappropriate comments to pupils rather than physical abuse. Family of Scot left disabled after breaking back in car crash raising funds for trial. Merchiston International School opened its doors in August 2018 as the first school in Longhua District, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. 2023 BBC. Cruden, a languages teacher there, was charged by officers and stood trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December 2015, where he was found guilty of three charges of indecent exposure at the school covering a period between 1980 and 1985. Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh offered its 'unreserved apology' The academy's lawyer Duncan Hamilton said those who had come forward had attended the school "many decades ago" with. ", Kylian Mbappe breaks Paris St Germain scoring record with 201st goal, Kelty Hearts fall to FC Edinburgh in League One clash, Haddington: Knox Academy celebrate diversity with special event, The city's 7 most beautiful buildings, in pictures, Haddington: Beyond Boundaries East Lothian hosts special event, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. About Admissions Academic Sport Co Curricular Boarding School Life Contact Us Facility Hire Activity Camps Skip to Main Content It also emerged last night that the procurator fiscal received a report concerning a 34-year-old woman in connection with alleged incidents. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. But they approved an application from her for the hearing to be held in private on the grounds of protecting vulnerable pupils.". Funded by the Ministry of Defence, Queen Victoria School in Dunblane was founded in 1905 for children of services personnel. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. The school has won the Scottish Schools U18 Rugby Cup a record eight times: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2018, 2021 and 2022. However, Cruden was not fined or given a jail sentence but was instead handed an absolute discharge by Sheriff Kevin Drummond. Merchiston Castle School. Merchiston International School (MIS) in Shenzhen is the first overseas campus of Merchiston Castle School, a top-ranked independent school located in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK with a glorious history of over 188 years. He added: 'Boys, parents, staff, Merchistonians and former parents have expressed their shock and deep sorrow that this seemingly ever-present figure will no longer be seen on our sports fields or in our classrooms.'. The inquiry resumed its proceedings in January 2022, already discovering a culture of dont yell and dont tell at the school with a former pupil stating that "No one would have listened" to issues raised by pupils and that "the school would not have taken action after complaints" during their tenure. Based at the foot of the Pentland hills, it hosts state-of-the-art facilities, with access to many different sports and has high-quality accommodation and catering facilities. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Woman who disappeared over three decades ago is found alive in Puerto Rico. Postecoglou is already working to improve his squad in the summer as he gets set for a huge double-header with Hearts. 'There's good reason to think that there are problems associated with/correlated with same sex parenthood.'. I invite you to take a closer look at Merchiston to gain a feel for the unique atmosphere, ethos and spirit we offer and to discover how we can deliver an education made for your son. The comments below have been moderated in advance. The allegations at the all-boys school date back to the 1960s. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Judge makes damning comments before sentencing Murdaugh for life, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter. [15], Merchiston Castle School developed Merchiston International School after a year of collaboration with Chinese investor Lv Jianjun. Scott Nicholson was badly injured in a car crash on Shetland. Fees for boarders can run to 29,000 a year and famous former pupils include Scotland rugby star Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. ', By posting your comment you agree to the house rules, By The new offer will see teachers getting a 12.3% increase by April 2023, and it will rise to 14% by 2024. A former pupil, 64, who gave evidence to the inquiry under the pseudonym John Crawford, said the school would not. "This may be unlikely if the name of the teacher and/or school is not publicised. It is what makes for meaningful and connected conversations. Antonio Colak set Rangers challenge as Beale wants 'best player' from Kilmarnock win to push Morelos all the way. The governors decided to purchase 90 acres of ground at the Colinton House estate, four miles south-west of Edinburgh. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Our pupils have a daily routine which varies across the various year groups and canchangefrom time to time to accommodate special circumstances, eg for an evening theatre trip, an afternoon sports fixture, in exam time, or in the lead up to a major drama production. James Rainy Brown, 75, who had taught for 52 years at Edinburgh's Merchiston Castle School, hanged himself at his home after being told of the inquiry into his alleged actions. Second Scots teaching union to ballot members on 'paltry' new pay offer. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has started to examine the provision of residential care at boarding schools. By Mid/late April to late June/early July with a mid-term break at the end of May/early June. MERCHISTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (Shenzhen) No.12 Shilongzai Road, Dalang Sub-District, Longhua District, Shenzhen T: 400 867 0177 E: mis_admissions@merchiston.cn Find out more Apply Today MERCHISTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (Shekou) No.1009 Nanhai Blvd, Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen T: 0755 21600824 E: shekou-admission@merchiston.cn Find out more [5], In 2018, 50% of grades achieved at A Level were A*/A. Last night, as fury erupted over the identity of the teacher being kept a secret, the schools headmaster told of his regret over the incidents, which happened in 2014 and 2015. Gordon Cruden was found guilty of exposing himself in front of teenage boys, but continues to work with children as a French teacher at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire. 80 percent of the teaching staff are from the United Kingdom.[16]. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? That is why we strive constantly to offer excellent value for money. More On A disciplinary hearing was told the teacher repeatedly had sex with a number of male pupils and sent one a sexually explicit video. It has been described by the UK Boarding Schools website as being one of the UK's leading independent schools due to its "balanced curriculum, excellent pastoral care and a high A level pass rate". Ange Postecoglou lays down Celtic gauntlet to 7 fringe players as he reveals summer transfer talks have begun. Now his 'heartbroken' family say they hope his name will be cleared. In his controversial memoir Spare, Harry admitted to regular drug-taking. The teacher had been 'an enduring and almost ever-present fixture at Merchiston' since arriving as a pupil in 1951. Merchiston is the only boys' independent boarding and day school in Scotland offering the English curriculum, and has a global, outward-looking dimension. The offences are alleged to have been committed at the school in the 1960s, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress. In 1828 Charles Chalmers started a small school in Park Place on a site now occupied by the McEwan Hall. He thought the school thought he had extreme or radical views.'. When your son joins us, he will leave Merchiston as a rounded individual, not only having achieved the highest level of personal academic success, but also with a sense of who he is and with respect for others, having learnt what it means to have true integrity and character. ', Mr Lucas closed his questioning by asking: 'Is your honest belief that because I believe in mainstream christian beliefs it makes me unfit to teach?'. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiryheard evidence that teachers at Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh, one of the country's most expensive private schools, mistreated the children. The Sports Fixtures Calendar is available from the Sports Desk button below. Discover what makes us different. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The biology and science teacher, known only as Respondant A, agreed to be struck off for repeatedly sleeping with. The Met Office said next week will start with the coldest day of the year so far with temperatures dropping to near freezing in northern parts of the UK. Merchiston Castle School: 6.30 % The shocking statistics show that pupils at Liberton High School, which was worst hit by the new system, were just over seven times more likely to be downgraded than pupils who attended Merchiston Castle. I would love to talk to you about your son and, more importantly, talk with him to work out what makes him tick, discuss where he wants to go next and make sure he has the toolkit to get there. Mr Lucas questioned Mr Johnston further, asking: 'My video supposedly infringed aspects of Merchiston Castle - did it? 2023 BBC. The school was his life and his lifelong commitment to it belonged to another age. [6], A range of sports and activities is available at the school; particularly in rugby union, which over 60 Merchistonians have played at international level. The latest phase of the investigation looks at allegations of abuse at Merchiston Castle School, which is one of the most exclusive schools in Scotland. Simon, a 26-year-old math teacher, turned himself in on Sept. 3, 2015, and was arrested for allegedly having improper sexual relations with a 17-year-old . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Prince Harry opens up about drug use, saying marijuana 'really helped' him but cocaine and alcohol was 'more 'I got picked on quite a lot': Prince Harry opens up about having his nose broken on the rugby pitch during What will the next pandemic be? One of Scotland's most prestigious schools, Merchiston Castle School is located in 96-acres of stunning grounds in the Colinton area of Edinburgh. [14], Former pupils described abuse at Merchiston as comparable to "the Lord of the Flies" in further hearings at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.