Lendrick Muir School

Lendrick Muir School was a Scottish residential school for children of above average intelligence, aged 11–19 (originally 7–18) or latterly children with dyslexia, located in Perth and Kinross[1] on an unclassified road from Rumbling Bridge to Crook of Devon.

Etymology

The places in Scotland with the name Lendrick are derived from Brittonic llanerch[2] (or *lanerc),[3] meaning "a vale, a space of level ground"[2] or clearing, pasture.[3]

Pupils

Children from all over the country, and a few from other parts of the United Kingdom, attended, and all were funded by their local authorities. School refusal was a common reason for pupils being placed here, and many had psychological and behavioural problems due to familial abuse or neglect.

The school claimed not to accept pupils who were "sexually promiscuous, psychotic, habitually delinquent or seriously behaviourally disturbed".[4]

Children were expected to be able to follow an academic syllabus, leading to examinations such as Ordinary Grades, Highers or Certificate of Sixth Year Studies, set by the Scottish Examination Board.[4]

Location and environs

The school was located off Naemoor Road, an unclassified road, connecting the A823 at Rumbling Bridge with the A977 at Crook of Devon. It was about 800 metres east of Rumbling Bridge and one kilometre west of Crook of Devon, situated at latitude 56.18629 longitude -3.57635. Male pupils lived within the main school building, while female pupils were housed separately in a large detached property, 'Craigard', a few kilometres away.

Nearby villages, in addition to the two mentioned include Drum, Yetts o' Muckart and Pool of Muckhart. The school was about 500 metres south-west of the River Devon and, because the river changes direction at Crook of Devon, it was also located about 500 metres north of the River Devon. The school was about 3 kilometres south-east of the Ochil Hills.

The school was situated in 200 acres of rough estate except for the potato field leased to a local farmer. The Sports field covered 25 acres and was often grazed by the same farmer's sheep.

Sports

The School provided facilities for hockey, football, cricket, and tennis. Other leisure time facilities included hill-climbing and canoeing, and various indoor pastimes.

The school had a house system for the purposes of sports competitions. To begin with there were two houses: Devons and Muirs. Later there was an Ochil House but that was discontinued after a time.

Press Coverage

The Alloa Journal (December 1965) reported:

A fearful night in the darkness of the snow covered Ochils was spent by a party of seven boys and girls [...] .It appears that Mr Thornber [Headmaster of Lendrick Muir School] and the pupils had left the school about 11.30 [...] to climb King's Seat (2000 feet) [...]. About one o'clock it started to snow and the storm continued for four or five hours making conditions extremely difficult for the young hillclimbers. Darkness fell and the party was still on the hills. The youngsters were beginning to show signs of fear and [...] one of the girls slipped and found she could go no further. It was then that Mr Thornber decided to go for help. The youngsters built a snow wall to give them some protection and were told not to move away. The master [...] saw the lights of Ladywell House and soon contacted the police. Mr Thornber went along with the rescue squad as guide. As they climbed higher [.. a rescuer] heard a faint shout from somewhere below and this led them to the young people. [...] They were huddled together in the shelter of the snow wall [...]. The youngsters were cold and frightened.[5]

Naemoor House

The school was housed in Naemoor House, formally Naemoor School, a neo-classical mansion designed by Adam Frame of Alloa[6] which was listed in 1977,[1] and this was a continuation of Riverview Private School in Alloa, run by husband and wife team John and Janet Grieve. Shortly before it became Lendrick Muir School, William Younger, the brewer, from Alloa injected finance into it.[7]

Change in direction

In 1988, the School changed its policy on admissions and its client groups,[6] focussing on children with dyslexia. It retained this focus until its closure in 1998.

Closure

It closed in 1998, following a "damning verdict on the [...] accommodation, management and curriculum".[8] According to the Sunday Mail, among other things, "[The School] which receives more than £250,000 a year in fees has been branded unsafe, dirty and lacking in resources. [...] The inspectors' report revealed a long list of problems. They found dirty and unsafe rooms, bad teaching and a lack of books and computers, and said the dinners were poor."[9]

The head of the school, John McLaughlin, ( who joined the school in its last year) accepted these criticisms and said: "[To stay open] we would have to have put in place a whole range of things. There would be no more communal showering, individual rooms where possible, pleasant views from windows, proper systems of care, quality learning for staff, appropriate ratios."[8]

A TES editorial said: "The “tough” legislation under the Children Act referred to in your report about independent special schools (TESS, February 6) was needed and should be welcomed. The net result of registration with social services is that residential schools will equal or surpass the standard applied to children’s homes. The range of things listed by Mr McLaughlin, head of Lendrick Muir, will be a shock to most local authority care workers as these are mostly issues of the past to them."[10]

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry Investigation

In November 2023, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI)[11] announced that as part of its Phase 9 investigations[12] concerning the provision of residential care establishments for children and young people, the Inquiry would examine the provision of residential care by Lendrick Muir School.

Hearings began in July 2025.[13] Testimony was heard from former pupils and staff. The Inquiry's findings will be published in due course and all relevant evidence will be published online[14] in redacted form.

Current use

The building has been owned and run by the Scripture Union since its closure as a school in 1998, and the SU now offers residential activity breaks for young people.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Naemoor House, Kinross-shire, Perth and Kinross".
  2. ^ a b The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland. A. Fullarton & Company. 1853. p. 212.
  3. ^ a b McNiven, Peter Edward (1853). "Gaelic place-names and the social history of Gaelic speakers in Medieval Menteith". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ https://www.friendsoftheochils.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FotO-Newsletter-Jan-21P.pdf
  6. ^ a b "Timeline". Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  7. ^ e-lendrick-muir-school-muckha
  8. ^ a b "Crisis looms as special school fees soar - Article - TES". Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Special school in probe shame." Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) 9 Nov. 1997: 23. InfoTrac Full Text Newspaper Database
  10. ^ https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/positive-and-necessary-changesletter
  11. ^ "Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry | Investigating the abuse of children in care in Scotland". www.childabuseinquiry.scot. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry | Inquiry announces Phase 9 of investigations". www.childabuseinquiry.scot. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry | Hearings Calendar – Phase 9". www.childabuseinquiry.scot. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry | Evidence Hub". www.childabuseinquiry.scot. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  15. ^ "SU Scotland - Centres - Lendrick Muir". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
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