Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh has been heavily criticised for allowing “dreadful abuse” of children almost continuously for six decades, the BBC has reported

Merchiston is a boarding and day school for boys aged seven to 18.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, chaired by Lady Smith, said a total of eight teachers were “abusers” and that from the 1950s until the second decade of the 21st century, there was a “more or less continuous line of indecency” from Mervyn Preston and James Rainy Brown.

Headmaster Jonathan Anderson and Gareth Baird, chairman of the board of governors, said in a statement Lady Smith’s report is “detailed, fair and, at times, a difficult read”.

It added: “It uncovers a history of unacceptable abuse suffered by many former pupils and highlights the enduring impact on their lives decades later.

“To all those who suffered abuse while in the care of Merchiston Castle School, we offer our most sincere and unreserved apology.

“No child should ever suffer harm, especially not in a place that exists to nurture and educate. Those who were abused by their teachers or their fellow pupils deserved better, and we are truly sorry that they were so badly let down.”

The statement added that the school is “wholeheartedly committed to ensuring the lessons of the past are fully learned”.