GORDON CRUDEN SCANDAL SHOCKS BLOXHAM AND EDINBURGH WITH SEXUAL OFFENCES AT MERCHISTON CASTLE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the educational community, Gordon Cruden, a former teacher at the prestigious Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, has been linked to serious allegations of indecent exposure during his tenure there. Despite being found guilty of multiple charges, he continues to work as a French teacher at Bloxham School in North Oxfordshire, raising questions about the handling of his case and the ongoing safety of students.

Cruden, now 62 years old, was convicted in December at Edinburgh sheriff court of three counts of indecent exposure that occurred between 1980 and 1985 at Merchiston Castle, Scotland’s only all-boys independent boarding school located in the Colinton area of Edinburgh. The school, which caters to students aged 7 to 18 and charges fees approaching £29,000 annually, has a reputation for academic excellence and exclusivity. The investigation into his conduct was part of a broader inquiry into historical abuse allegations involving former staff members, two of whom, both in their 60s, faced charges as a result of the police probe.

During the trial, it was revealed that Cruden, then a language teacher, was accused of deliberately wearing trousers with a large hole in the crotch and sitting with his legs apart, thereby exposing his genitals to teenage boys. Witnesses included three male students who observed these inappropriate acts. Despite the gravity of the accusations, Cruden was not sentenced to jail or fined. Instead, Sheriff Kevin Drummond issued an absolute discharge, meaning no penalty was imposed, and no criminal conviction was recorded. Consequently, Cruden is not listed on the Sex Offenders Register. The Judicial Office for Scotland confirmed that Cruden had filed an appeal but later abandoned it last month.

Remarkably, despite his conviction, Cruden remains employed as a French teacher at Bloxham School in England, which educates pupils aged 11 to 18. His biography on the school’s website describes him as a passionate educator who teaches French across all age groups, coaches rugby, and organizes early morning swimming sessions. The profile also highlights his previous roles, including house tutor and editor of the school yearbook, the Merchistonian, during his time at Merchiston Castle. The school emphasizes its Christian values and commitment to nurturing students to become compassionate individuals.

Cruden’s background includes education at Edinburgh University and teacher training at Moray House. He represented Scotland in swimming in 1970 and joined Merchiston Castle in 1977 as a French teacher. He eventually became Head of Modern Languages and was actively involved in school life, including coaching and editing. His departure from Merchiston was noted in the 1986 yearbook, which listed him among staff who had left, though the reasons for his exit were not publicly disclosed. Court documents reveal that Cruden owns a property in Edinburgh’s New Town, purchased in 2003, and during a property sale, he listed Bloxham School as his address.

Attempts to contact Cruden at his properties in Edinburgh and Bloxham on Friday were unsuccessful, as no one answered the doors. A committee meeting of the Warwickshire Society of Referees from September last year mentioned that Cruden was “away on business in Edinburgh,” indicating he maintains ties to both locations. The ongoing presence of Cruden at Bloxham School continues to raise concerns among parents and authorities about the safeguarding measures in place, given his past convictions and the serious nature of the allegations against him.