Lady Smith, who chairs the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), details more than 40 years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at the school in her latest report.
She says the school focused on protecting its reputation and ignored complaints.
Lady Smith also names four serial perpetrators of the abuse, including two who went on to offend at other schools.
Edinburgh Academy apologises for 'brutal' abuse
"It is clear it was assumed that abuse did not and would not take place; when it did, the school could not accept that it had happened, failed to address it, and failed to recognise the risk of it continuing. Complacency was the order of the day.
"When complaints were made, they were either disbelieved or left unresolved. Staff chose not to notice and avoided intervention or investigation despite there being obvious signs of abuse."
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