// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Edinburgh Academy pupils suffered decades of 'dreadful abuse'
Edinburgh Academy was officially opened in 1824 during a ceremony which included an address by writer Sir Walter Scott
Pupils at Edinburgh Academy suffered decades of "dreadful abuse", a report has found.
Lady Smith, who chairs the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), details more than 40 years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at the school in her latest report, external.
She says the school focused on protecting its reputation and ignored complaints.
Lady Smith also names four serial perpetrators of the abuse, including two who went on to offend at other schools.
Edinburgh Academy, which had previously apologised for "brutal and unrestrained" historical abuse, said it was committed to facing up to "the wrongs of the past".
The inquiry heard claims of historical abuse against 20 teaching staff at the private school, with most of the evidence covering the years between 1954 and 1995.
Nearly 50 witnesses gave evidence, including broadcaster Nicky Campbell - who said one teacher had abused children on an "industrial scale".
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Publishing her findings, former judge Lady Smith said the school had "failed to look at itself through a realistic and critical lens" for decades.