Child abuse was "normalised" at the King's former school with an "extremely violent culture" in some boarding houses, an inquiry has found.
The inquiry heard in 2021 of racism, grooming and "extreme violence" at the senior school. Gordonstoun offered an apology to those who suffered abuse and acknowledged its moral responsibility for those at Aberlour prior to 1999 when it became a subsidiary of Gordonstoun Schools Ltd. "A dreadfully abusive and, in some houses, extremely violent culture was allowed to take root. Abuse was also perpetrated by staff. The evidence of abuse was clear from the accounts of many applicants. Similarly at Aberlour, the 1960s to 1990s were marked by a similar culture of assumption and naivety, exacerbated by the long and unchallenged leadership.
Lady Smith said: "There have been periods in Gordonstoun's history where abuse was allowed to be normalised for decades. It seems clear, however, that for the last 30 years or so, some good leaders have sought to recover the position."