Full hearing (conduct)

Details

Type of hearing:
Full hearing (Conduct)
Location:
GTC Scotland office
Date:
Dates:
26th - 29th May 2025

Agenda

Allegation(s)

  1. While you were employed by [redacted] as a teacher at [redacted]: 

    (a) On or around 6 July 2014 you did send one or more text messages by electronic means to Pupil E:
    (i) asking that Pupil E meet you at [redacted] whilst she was 17 years old
    (ii) including words to the effect of “it's a good job you didn’t come as we may have did something we enjoyed (or regretted)” 
    (b) On or around 14 July 2014 you did exchange one or more of the text messages in schedule 1 with Pupil E
    (c) Between around 16 July 2014 and 18 July 2014 you did exchange one or more of the text messages in schedule 2 with Pupil E
    (d) Between around 20 July 2014 and 22 July 2014 you did exchange one or more of the text messages in schedule 3 with Pupil E
    (e) Between around 22 July 2014 and 24 July 2014 you did exchange one or more of the text messages in schedule 4 with Pupil E
    (f) On or around 17 July 2014, gave Pupil E and Pupil F a gift of tickets to the 2014 Commonwealth Games
    (g) In the period between June 2016 to August 2016,you did exchange one or more of the text messages and/or images in schedule 5 with Pupil A
    (h) On or around 16 June 2016, you attempted to kiss Pupil A on the cheek
    (i) On or around 15 September 2015, you cuddled Pupil A
  2. The content of one or more of the communications in Allegation 1(g), above, was explicitly sexual in nature. 

And in light of the above it is alleged that your fitness to teach is impaired and you are unfit to teach, as a result of breaching Parts 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 of the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct 2012. 

 

Schedule 1

  1. You: “I'll be off to bed soon. Busy day tomorrow following the Commonwealth Baton around [redacted] then [redacted]. What are you up to tomorrow? X”
  2. Pupil E: “Ohh I'm meant to be going to see our DofE leader carrying the baton tomorrow but I've got a driving lesson, working and Pupil G's home tomorrow x”
  3. You: “Half the roads will be shut, might not be much of a lesson. Where's Pupil G been? I am very ignorant and don't know much about what he's been doing these days. Has he been working away or just on holiday? x"
  4. Pupil E: “Oh that's good. Hopefully he'll just take me home again then. He's just been on holiday x” 
  5. You: “I'm sure he'll bring you something nice back. Hopefully not an STI like some guys bring back from their holidays! Sorry, just kidding, out of order, won't say anything like that ever again, please forgive my childish humour. x"
  6. Pupil E: “I hope not haha! he'll be nowhere near me so I'll not be catching it anyway, he can keep it to himself if that's the case x”
  7. You: “Or else he can give it to some other girl. Sorry, I'll stop that now. Anyway, I'm off to bed.Really hope you have a good sleep tonight. Probably talk again tomorrow, mind you if Pupil G's back I might get dumped. x"

Schedule 2

  1. “Can you send me your address and Pupil F's address? I'm going to bring your birthday card over tomorrow and also give your "present" to Pupil F to give to you on Sunday.  Those really high zip slides that go over big gorges look really scary, glad I'm not doing that. x"
  2. “Is it your turn to disappear off the face of the Earth? x"
  3. “Are you still alive?Hope so as I've bought your present. x"
  4. “Missing my insomniac friend. x"
  5. “Please send me a text, let me know you're still alive. Doesn't matter when you send it. x"
  6. “Are you going to be in today? Was maybe going to head over your way after lunch. x"
  7. “Have you been working tonight? Is your hair now looking beautiful? X”
  8. “I know where you live! X”
  9. “That wasn't meant as a threat btw. X”
  10. “I hope your phone hasn't been working rather than you've been ignoring me. X" 

Schedule 3 

  1. Pupil E: “Yeah that was most definitely the issue! And I don't have many shifts of my own but covering for [Miss 2] since she has left now x”
  2. You: “Now you're 18 you'll be able to meet me in pubs in [redacted] when I'm out with my football team. Unless I'm barred after last time. x"
  3. Pupil E “I don't think your football team would like to associate with me on a night out but yeah you are probably barred x”
  4. You: “It's not the football team you'd be associating with, it's me. And I'd rather be with you than my football team anyway. However as I'll be barred we'll have to hang around the cross with the 14 year olds. x"
  5. You: “As you must be about sleeping I guess it's time for me to go to bed as well. Know that I love you dearly and hope you have a terrific day tomorrow. xx" 
  6. You: “Hey [Pupil E],hope you had a great birthday. Didn't want to text you yesterday as knew you'd be busy. x"
  7. You: “Hope I've not done anything to upset you like last week when you didn't text me. x” 
  8. You: “Hi [Pupil E],did you get a new phone for your birthday and you've lost my number? x"

Schedule 4 

  1. You: “You should make the celebrations last at least a week. I'm demanding a picture of you and Pupil F doing the "Mobot" at Hampden on Sunday. x"
  2. Pupil E: “Yeah well I have been so far. What's the "Mobot". I've not heard about it yet? x”
  3. You: “Mo Farah's celebration - it's far from impressive but he's the main attraction on Sunday.Should be good to see him run. Not sure what else is on Sunday. Hope you enjoy it, atmosphere should be good. x"
  4. Pupil E: “Ohh I see! Yeah I'm sure it'll be good just glad I finally got someone to work for me x” 
  5. You: “And you're glad you're not doing a bungee jump. Were you ever worried? Did you think I could be that cruel? x"
  6. Pupil E: “Yes I've very glad I was getting worried! And yeah probably haha x”
  7. You: “Suppose I could be that cruel, not to you though now I'm being nice at all times. I'm going to the swimming with [Pupil L] on Thursday, looking forward to it, hopefully Michael Jamieson will win a gold for Scotland, that would make for a great night X”
  8. Pupil E: “Oh that sounds good" Is [Pupil K] not competing, maybe she could win us some medals? x"
  9. You: “She wasn't good enough to compete at that level so had to become deaf. Sorry, out of order although lots of people think that's the case. I do like [Pupil K], feel sorry for her, blame her parents for "princessing" her. x"

Schedule 5

  1. words to the effect that Pupil A “looked beautiful at prom”.
  2. asking that Pupil A send you a photograph of you both at a school prom
  3. in response to a message from Pupil A with a photograph of her abs, words to the effect of“hurry up and get home cause I want to see more of you”.
  4. words to the effect of asking Pupil A: 
    (a) which teachers were “fit” and/or
    (b) which teachers she would “hammer”
  5. informing Pupil A which teachers you
    (a) found attractive and/or 
    (b) would “bone”.
  6. in reference to another teacher, words to the effect that you would “rub her clit and eat her out”
  7. in reference to another teacher, words to the effect that you would “lick her out till her heart was content”
  8. words to the effect that Pupil A “looked hot”
  9. words to the effect that you had the afternoon off and wanted to take Pupil A “a drive” 
  10. words to the effect that you hoped Pupil A was wearing a skirt for easy access, followed by a smiling emoji pictogram
  11. words to the effect of “did you mean to bend over the table in B17”
  12. When Pupil A replied to your message in (11) above, and asked you if you had looked at her in a‘weird way’, you responded ‘yes’.
  13. words to the effect that you had a “free house, [Mrs 1] has taken the kids to [Miss 3]’s house”
  14. words to the effect that [Mrs 1] had just dropped the kids off followed by the words “wink wink” or a winking emoji pictogram.
  15. asking Pupil A to send you photograph(s) of herself whilst Pupil A was at a party
  16. In response to a message from Pupil A that she was in bed, asking Pupil A to send you a photograph of herself in a onesie
  17. asking Pupil A to send you photograph(s) of herself showing more flesh
  18. one or more photographs of yourself: 
    (a) in shorts exposing your legs
    (b) exposing your genitals
  19. in response to a photo message from Pupil A of herself in a nightie lying on the floor, words to the effect of “is that a bit of cleavage”
  20. A photograph of Pupil A in the bath
  21. A photograph of Pupil A wearing a leotard 

Attending a hearing

Following an order by a Panel, this hearing will take place virtually, by way of Microsoft Teams. Should any members of the public or press wish to attend the hearing (virtually), they must contact GTC Scotland no less than 48 working hours prior to the start time of the hearing in order to request the link to the public hearing. Any requests to attend the hearing beyond this time cannot be facilitated and will not be responded to.

Attendees will require to have the Microsoft Teams application downloaded to their device. You can download Microsoft Teams from the Microsoft website or from the Apple Store on Apple devices, or the Google PlayStore on Android devices.

When requesting a link to the public hearing, the following information will require to be provided:

  • Your full name
  • Date of hearing
  • Email address to which we can send the Microsoft Teams link
  • Contact number we can reach you on if there are any technical issues during the hearing
  • Reason for wishing to observe (for example: press)

As with hearings held in our office, members of the public and press in attendance are reminded not to interrupt proceedings and it is strictly prohibited for an observer to audio or video record, screen shot,photograph, copy or share our hearing proceedings. Under Rule 1.7.10, a Panel may decide to exclude any person where the Panel is of the opinion that his/her presence is disruptive or otherwise detrimental to proceedings being conducted in line with the general objectives. Furthermore, members of the public and press will not be permitted access to the private discussions of the Panel.

In relation to applications for privacy, media are entitled to make representations to the Panel if they so wish. Further information can be found in the GTCS Privacy and Anonymity Practice Statement. Where a member of the media wishes to make such representations but does not wish to attend the hearing, representations can be provided in writing.

Attending a hearing

Members of the public and media are expected to contact GTC Scotland no less than 48 working hours prior to the start time of the hearing if they wish to attend an in-person hearing in order to allow staffing arrangements to be put in place. Any requests to attend the hearing beyond this time cannot be facilitated and will not be responded to.

When requesting to attend the hearing, the following information will require to be provided:

  • Your full name
  • Date of hearing
  • Contact number we can reach you on
  • Reason for wishing to observe (for example: press)

Members of the public and press in attendance are reminded not to interrupt proceedings and it is strictly prohibited for an observer to audio or video record, photograph, copy or share our hearing proceedings. Under Rule 1.7.10, a Panel may decide to exclude any person where the Panel is of the opinion that his/her presence is disruptive or otherwise detrimental to proceedings being conducted in line with the general objectives. Furthermore, members of the public and press will not be permitted access to the private discussions of the Panel.

In relation to applications for privacy, media are entitled to make representations to the Panel if they so wish. Further information can be found in the GTC Scotland Privacy and Anonymity Practice Statement. Where a member of the media wishes to make such representations but does not wish to attend the hearing, representations can be provided in writing.