Full hearing (conduct)

1. Between October 2021 and 21 September 2022, whilst employed as a teacher at [redacted], Aberdeen, and during the course of his employment, the Teacher did:
   
   • (a) suggest meeting Pupil A out with school;
   • (b) send text messages to Pupil A:      
     
     • (i) that she was beautiful, or words to that effect;
     • (ii) that she was funny, or words to that effect;
     • (iii) about photos on her social media accounts; and
   • (c) engage in video calls and telephone calls with Pupil A and suggest meeting for a drink.
2. The Teacher’s actions at allegation 1 made Pupil A feel uncomfortable.
3. Between 10 January 2022 and 4 April 2023, whilst employed as a teacher at [redacted], Aberdeen, and during the course of his employment, the Teacher did:
   
   • (a) send messages to Pupil B over Microsoft Teams:
     
     • (i) which were unrelated to school and which included praise and encouragement;
     • (ii) after school hours, at weekends and during school holidays;
     • (iii) referencing Pupil B’s appearance;
     • (iv) about Pupil B’s dancing and comment that the Teacher would like to hear more about Pupil B’s dancing;
     • (v) engaging in jokes; and
   • (b) seek to arrange 1:1 meetings with Pupil B after school and fail to record the content of these meetings.
4. The Teacher’s actions at allegation 3 made Pupil B feel uncomfortable.
5. Between 22 November 2022 and 14 April 2023, whilst employed as a teacher at [redacted], Aberdeen, and during the course of his employment, the Teacher did:
   
   • (a) send messages to Pupil C over Microsoft Teams:
     
     • (i) which were unrelated to school;
     • (ii) after school hours, at weekends and during school holidays;
     • (iii) engaging in jokes;
     • (iv) seeking to engage in further conversations when Pupil C failed to respond;
   • (b) tell Pupil C to call him [redacted] and not ‘Sir’;
   • (c) buy Pupil C chocolate;
   • (d) arrange 1:1 meetings with Pupil C after school and fail to record the content of these meetings;
   • (e) disclose personal information to Pupil C and seek disclosure by Pupil C of personal information; and
   • (f) request information as to where Pupil C was, what she was doing and why, including asking when Pupil C’s father was leaving for a holiday.
6. The Teacher’s actions at allegation 5 made Pupil C feel uncomfortable.

In light of the above, it is alleged that the Teacher’s fitness to teach is impaired and/or that he is unfit to teach as a result of breaching parts 1.2, 1.3, 1.6 and 2.3 of GTC Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct 2012.

Following an order by a Panel, this hearing will take place remotely, by way of Microsoft Teams.

Should any members of the public or press wish to attend the hearing (remotely), they must contact GTC Scotland (by emailing regulation@gtcs.org.uk) no less than 48 working hours prior to the start time of the hearing (i.e. by 10.00 am on 6 August 2026) 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.

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

• The full name of the person who will attend the hearing
• 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)

Please note that only the person named who has requested access to the hearing, and who has been provided with the link, will be permitted to enter the hearing, unless a substitute attendee has been intimated in advance.

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.

Please note that an order has been made by a Panel that part of this hearing is to be held in private. At those stages, any members of the public/press in attendance at the hearing will be instructed to disconnect from the call and will only be able to re-join the call once the private session has concluded.

Please read the remote hearing observer guidance on our website.