2. BACKGROUND
2.1 The Inquiry was commissioned by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, following a report prepared by the latter in August 2007 on the outcome of investigations into allegations of child abuse at Kerelaw Residential School and Secure Unit in Stevenston, Ayrshire. The School had closed at the end of 2004 and the Secure Unit in March 2006.
2.2 In April 2006 two former employees at the school were convicted on a number of historical charges of child abuse, including sexual elements, and received prison sentences. Glasgow City Council concluded that a core of around 40 staff had been involved in abuse over a period of some 25 years and that a much larger number of staff knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it. A number of former employees at Kerelaw were disciplined, and some were dismissed. Some were referred to the SSSC and the General Teaching Council for Scotland ( GTCS) and to the Disqualified from Working with Children List ( DWCL). Some of those referred to the DWCL were listed.
2.3 The conclusions drawn by Glasgow City Council attracted significant criticism, from those who were the subject of investigations and disciplinary procedures, from their families, and from others who had worked at Kerelaw over the years and who felt their reputation had been tarnished. Many criticised the lack of detail in the Glasgow Report. The Inquiry was announced by the Minister for Children and Early Years in November 2007, with work scheduled to start in January 2008.
Terms of reference
2.4 The purpose of the Inquiry was:
To secure comprehensive insight into the circumstances that led to the abuse that occurred at Kerelaw open and secure school from April 1996 until closure.
To examine Glasgow City Council's stewardship of Kerelaw School.
To consider the investigation by Glasgow City Council and post-school closure arrangements.
To make recommendations relevant to ensuring that the contributory factors which led to abuse at Kerelaw occurring and remaining unactioned for a protracted period cannot happen again.
To identify any other issues arising in the course of undertaking the Inquiry considered to be relevant to the safe care of young people in residential settings.
2.5 The terms of reference are set out in full at Annex A.
The Inquiry Team
2.6 The team comprised the Chairman, 3 other investigators - Dr Ingrid Clayden, Katie Lamb and Simon Glassford, and an office manager/administrator, Evelyn McKenna.