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Ancestry UK

Kerelaw Residential School, Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland

The Kerelaw Residential School, a 'List D' School, was opened by the Strathclyde Regional Council in January 1970 in premises at Kerelaw Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire. Kerelaw was established a replacement for Mossbank School in Glasgow. Initially accommodating 72 boys, it later became co-educational. A mixed Secure Unit was added in 1983 and extended in 1988 to house an additional 24 inmates, all having significant behavioural, emotional or educational needs.

In 1996, following local government reorganisation, Glasgow City Council took over the running of the school. Kerelaw was the largest local authority-run establishment of its kind and catered for some of the country's most challenging and vulnerable young people.

The closure of the school took place between 2004 and 2006. In 2007, Glasgow City Council reported that there had been up to 400 allegations from 159 people complaining of emotional, physical or sexual abuse at the school, covering the period between 1993 and 2004. Following police investigations, two staff were convicted of physical and sexual abuse, and one of physical abuse. A further case of alleged sexual abuse was found to be not proven.

The school buildings no longer survive.

Records

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  • None identfied at present — any information welcome.

Bibliography

  • None identified at present.

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.