Meeting of the Parliament 15 November 2017
Very shortly after being elected, I was approached by a constituent with a case involving a child who was the victim of serious bullying at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh that ended up causing lifelong injuries. On 15 February 2017, a report of the annual Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education engagement visit to the school said that there were
“no identified areas for development”
in relation to safeguarding; yet, by that time, the school was aware of a catalogue of complaints about various forms of bullying against a pupil and knew that its parent liaison group had heard of bullying concerns from parents who were scared to complain. The school was also aware of potential regulatory action that was under consideration by Scottish ministers.
In September this year, a special inspection was conducted and, three weeks ago, Scottish ministers wrote to the merchant company of Edinburgh to inform it that
“The Scottish Ministers are satisfied that George Watson’s College is at risk of becoming objectionable on the following ground — that the welfare of a pupil attending the school is not adequately safeguarded and promoted there.”
I do not know whether the governance failures that were identified at George Watson’s College are an isolated incident in the merchant company schools or in private schools more generally, but we need to find out as a matter of urgency.
The Equalities and Human Rights Committee made a number of recommendations in its report. Recommendations 20 and 28 are of particular relevance, yet neither of the recommendations nor the Government’s response to them suggests that they will apply equally to the private sector. I would be pleased to hear the cabinet secretary’s view of whether monitoring and recording, in particular, should apply to all schools. Anti-bullying measures, whether statutory or in the form of guidance, should apply equally to all schools, including private schools, as children’s human rights are universal and indivisible.
It is self-evident that the welfare of children at the school is at risk, yet the letter intimating regulatory action and the HMIE report have not been published. I plan to publish both documents this afternoon, and I invite ministers to reflect on the possibility that there are wider governance and safeguarding failings in the private sector and to investigate as a matter of utmost urgency whether that is the case.
16:57