The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is investigating a Catholic school charity that has not submitted its annual financial accounts for the last three years.
This week, OSCR announced that it was making inquiries into Fernhill School Ltd, an independent school that registered as a charity in 1975.
In its inquiry report, the regulator said the charity has failed to submit its accounts for the years ending July 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, it found that unaudited dormant company accounts for the years ended July 2023 and 2024 have been filed with Companies House without explanation.
OSCR said Fernhill School Ltd has not responded to previous correspondence seeking an explanation of its financial position, and is now looking at how trustees – or in this case, governors – are managing the charity.
The regulator said the trustees appeared to have breached their duties under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 to act in the interests of the charity and, as a result, there has been misconduct in the administration of the charity.
“OSCR considers it expedient and in the interests of the charity to exercise its power under section 30b of the 2005 Act to direct the charity to provide financial and other governance information,” it said.
Civil Society has contacted Fernhill School Ltd for comment.
OSCR closes inquiry into defunct charity
Separately, last year, OSCR opened an inquiry into Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA), after members of the public raised concerns over the charity’s sudden closure on 24 July 2025.
The concerns included allegations of inappropriate expenditure by MHA, which registered as a charity in 1954.
In a social media post, MHA said its funding had been reduced or withdrawn and upcoming contract negotiations offered no guarantee of renewal, while rising operational costs had added further strain, ultimately leading to the charity’s immediate closure.
OSCR has now confirmed to Civil Society that its inquiry into MHA concluded in December, with no further action taken.
“OSCR is satisfied from the information we received during our inquiry that the actions of the charity trustees were consistent with the general duties required under Scottish charity law, and that there was no inappropriate financial management which led to the charity becoming insolvent,” it said.
“As a result, we’ve closed this inquiry.”
