A top private school has had a bullying complaint upheld against it by the country’s care watchdog.

Glenalmond College was judged to be “inadequate” in dealing with prolonged incidents of bullying and has now been pulled up for the problem twice in two years.

The elite school eight miles from Perth charges up to £31,290 a year for boarding.

It has educated actors Robbie Coltrane and Alastair Mackezine, Oscar winning documentary maker Kevin Macdonald and a host of successful sportsmen.

However, the school has attracted unflattering headlines in the past.

In 2007, Glenalmond was criticised after pupils created a spoof video that involved them hunting “chavs”.

Twelve months later, a documentary revealed how well-heeled pupils at the school had taunted and picked on a scholarship pupil.

The teenager - whose parents were carers – was reported to be the first pupil to have the full fee paid for him.

However, the Pride and Privilege programme showed the then 13 year old telling his mother: "They [other pupils] keep asking what my dad does for a living and how can he afford the fees."

The Sunday Herald can now reveal that Glenalmond has had further problems with bullying seven years on.

An unnamed individual made a detailed complaint to the Care Inspectorate last year and four parts were upheld.

According to the Inspectorate, one of the complaints explicitly stated: “The service failed to take appropriate action to address a named young person being bullied.”

In its findings, the watchdog elaborated on the probe: “They [the complainant] stated that there was a culture of bullying at the service and that the staff and management were complicit in this by not addressing it adequately or by following their own bullying policy.”

Part of the evidence considered by the Inspectorate included a recording which allegedly revealed bullying.

Although students were disciplined as a result of the bullying, the watchdog stated: “We found that systems were inadequate for addressing prolonged incidents. Incidents were not appropriately recorded nor was there a clear coordinated plan of how future incidents of bullying would be addressed.

“No information was provided to the House Master on previous events, vulnerabilities or a plan of how the service would address future incidents. This was inappropriate and highlighted that there was a systemic failure in ensuring that the young person received the best care and support available.”

Another section of upheld complaint related to Glenalmond failing to ensure that bedrooms were adequately heated.

The Inspectorate did not issue any “requirements” in relation to the bullying, as it noted the school had since introduced a number of measures.

However, the same school also had a bullying-related complaint upheld in 2014 and the watchdog issued recommendations in response to that investigation.

These included ensuring that the school’s anti-bullying policy and procedures were used more effectively and that “clear findings” and action should follow any internal Glenalmond probe.

Tam Baillie, the Children and Young People's Commissioner in Scotland, said: "Bullying in schools is a traumatising experience and needs strategies for dealing with it. It can be more intense when it occurs in a boarding setting as it can continue beyond the school day which makes it important that effective measures are taken when it does arise."

Elaine Logan, the Warden of Glenalmond College, said: “Every school in the country is dealing with pupils who get it wrong in their relationships with others. In order to protect the privacy of the young people involved we will not comment on individual cases. Our first priority is the wellbeing of pupils in our care and we do not tolerate bullying in any form.

“Scrutiny of all our practices goes along with any complaint, whether it be about bullying or anything else. I've spoken to the pupils about poor behaviour towards others and I've also communicated my stance on bullying to all the parents. Glenalmond has nothing to hide and has always worked closely with the Care Inspectorate or any other agency.”