Britain’s private schools are caught in a sexual-abuse scandal
A wave of testimonies draws attention to the behaviour of male pupils
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/sites/default/files/images/2021/03/articles/main/20210403_brp502.jpg)
FOR CENTURIES, Britain’s public schools (a term for private schools designed to baffle people who didn’t go to one) were notorious for the “fagging” system that allowed older boys to abuse younger boys. Barely have they washed that taint from their reputations than another emerges. Over the past month, a wave of testimonies have been published of sexual harassment, assault and rape of girls—and private schools are their focus.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Girls aloud”
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