The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has initiated an investigation into Fernhill School Ltd, a Catholic school charity. This inquiry arises from the charity’s failure to submit financial accounts for three consecutive years. OSCR made this announcement this week, highlighting the importance of accountability among charitable organizations.
Investigation Details
Fernhill School Ltd, established in 1975, registered as a charity and has yet to fulfill its annual reporting obligations. Specifically, the charity has not filed its financial accounts for the years ending July 2022, July 2023, and July 2024.
- Charity Name: Fernhill School Ltd
- Established: 1975
- Account Submission Deadlines: July 2022, July 2023, July 2024
Despite this lack of submission, the organization did file unaudited dormant company accounts with Companies House for the years ending July 2023 and 2024. However, these submissions remain unexplained.
Regulatory Findings
The OSCR has reported that Fernhill School Ltd has not adequately responded to its attempts to clarify the charity’s financial standing. The investigation has raised concerns about the management practices among the trustees, also referred to as governors in this context.
The regulator emphasized potential breaches of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. It indicated that these breaches may constitute misconduct in the charity’s administration.
Regulatory Actions
OSCR believes it is necessary to utilize its authority under section 30b of the 2005 Act. This allows the regulator to demand financial and governance information from Fernhill School Ltd to ensure transparency and accountability.
In a related development, OSCR closed a previous inquiry into another charity, Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA), which ceased operations on July 24, 2025. Following public concerns over MHA’s sudden closure and allegations of financial mismanagement, OSCR investigated but found no wrongdoing. The inquiry concluded in December 2022, and the regulator maintained that the trustees acted in accordance with Scottish charity law.
Conclusion
The investigation into Fernhill School Ltd underscores the OSCR’s commitment to maintaining governance standards within the charity sector. Transparency and accountability are essential for the trust placed in charitable organizations, particularly those that serve educational purposes.
OSCR continues to monitor the situation closely, and decisions regarding any potential actions against Fernhill School Ltd will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiry.
