Panel Meeting - Anonymity Application - Teacher A

Definitions

Any reference in this decision to:

• ‘GTC Scotland’ means the General Teaching Council for Scotland;
• the ‘Panel’ means the Fitness to Teach Panel considering the case; and
• the ‘Rules’ (and any related expression) means the GTC Scotland Fitness to Teach Rules 2017 or refers to a provision (or provisions) within them.

Background

The procedural meeting was arranged to consider the following:

For the name of the Teacher and his GTC Scotland Registration Number to be anonymised in any written decision or documentation published by the GTC Scotland in terms of Rule 1.7.3 of the General Teaching Council for Scotland Fitness to Teach Rules 2017

Evidence

In accordance with rule 1.7.17, the Panel admitted all of the documents and statements listed below as evidence for the purposes of the hearing:

1. Anonymity application, dated December 2025
2. [redacted], dated 17 November 2025

Preliminary matters

The Panel carefully considered the terms of Rule 2.5.1:

At any stage of proceedings, a Panel of its own volition, on the Convener’s direction or upon the application of a party (in such form as may be specified by the Servicing Officer), may:

(a) determine any interim or preliminary matter that has arisen in the case;

(b) resolve any issues of law; or

(c) consider an application for a case to be cancelled.

Unless a party has (in the relevant application) requested that a procedural hearing be held or a Panel considers that such a hearing is necessary in the particular circumstances, the above matters will be considered by a Panel at a meeting based on the written representations made by the parties in compliance with case management directions set for this purpose.

The Panel noted that no request for a procedural hearing had been made. Further to this, the Panel considered that a procedural hearing was not necessary. Therefore, the Panel proceeded to consider the matter on the papers.

Decision

The Panel began by considering [redacted].

The Panel moved on to consider the Privacy and Anonymity Practice statement. The Panel did not have the allegations and full decision before it but noted that the Teacher signed a removal with consent order following inappropriate conduct toward female pupils during 2021 and 2022. He had also been dismissed from his post as a result of same. The Panel noted the public interest in publicising a decision of GTC Scotland on such matters. The Panel noted however the extreme and adverse effect of disclosure of the Teacher’s identity, including that the Teacher [redacted]. In these circumstances, the Panel was of the view that there was a compelling reason for acceding to the Teacher’s request and granting anonymity in line with that request and that the public interest could be served by publication short of disclosing the name and registration number of the Teacher. It accordingly granted the application for anonymity.