Full hearing (conduct)

1. Between 27 October 2023 and 4 December 2023, whilst employed as a teacher at [redacted] by [redacted], the Teacher did: 
   
   • (a) On 27 October 2023, ask Pupil A for her number;
   • (b) On 27 October 2023, provide Pupil A with his personal mobile number after knowing she was 16 years old;
   • (c) On 31 October 2023, restart the conversation with Pupil A after it ended on 28 October 2023;
   • (d) On 3 November 2023, message Pupil A again after the previous conversation ended;
   • (e) Form a physical relationship with Pupil A, a 16-year-old pupil at [redacted], in that he did:
     
     • (i) On 13 November 2023, hug Pupil A goodbye when dropping her back home in [redacted];
     • (ii) On 17 November 2023 in his house:
       
       • (a) kiss Pupil A once; and
       • (b) snuggle Pupil A in bed;
     • (iii) On 17 November 2023, cuddle Pupil A on the sofa whilst watching a movie;
   • (f) Have Pupil A round to his house four times on the following dates:
     
     • (i) On 7 November 2023 to use the toilet;
     • (ii) On 11 November 2023 to watch a movie;
     • (iii) On 17 November 2023 to watch a movie and stay over; and
     • (iv) On 2 December 2023 to help put the Teacher’s Christmas tree up;
   • (g) Access SEEMIS records for his own personal use to establish if Pupil A attended [redacted];
   • (h) On 7 November 2023:
     
     • (i) Pick Pupil A up in his car;
     • (ii) Go out for coffee to [redacted] in [redacted] with Pupil A; and
     • (iii) Go for a drive with Pupil A;
   • (i) On 9 November 2023, look out for Pupil A when visiting [redacted] in a professional capacity;
   • (j) On 11 November 2023, pick Pupil A up in his car and take her to his house;
   • (k) On 13 November 2023, pick Pupil A up in his car;
   • (l) On 13 November 2023, have an unprofessional discussion with Pupil A about Colleague A;
   • (m) On 16 November 2023, pick Pupil A up in his car and give her a lift to work;
   • (n) On 17 November 2023:
     
     • (i) Pick Pupil A up in his car; and
     • (ii) Go bowling with Pupil A in [redacted];
   • (o) On 21 November 2023:
     
     • (i) Pick Pupil A up in his car; and
     • (ii) Go for food with Pupil A at [redacted] in [redacted];
   • (p) On 23 November and 28 November 2023, have unprofessional discussions with Pupil A about Colleague B;
   • (q) On 23 November 2023:
     
     • (i) Pick Pupil A up in his car; and
     • (ii) Go for lunch with Pupil A to Asda in [redacted];
   • (r) On 25 November 2023:
     
     • (i) Pick Pupil A up in his car from her work;
     • (ii) Go for a drive with Pupil A; and
     • (iii) Take Pupil A back to [redacted];
   • (s) On 27 November 2023:
     
     • (i) Pick Pupil A up in his car; and
     • (ii) Go for a coffee with Pupil A;
   • (t) On 30 November 2023, pick Pupil A up in his car and give Pupil A a lift to work;
   • (u) On 2 December 2023, pick Pupil A up in his car and take her to his house;
   • (v) Send Pupil A text messages suggesting they engage in physical contact, namely:
     
     • (i) On 21 November 2023, send: ‘[redacted] requires a cuddle’;
     • (ii) On 25 November 2023, in relation to telling Pupil A that he had fun hanging out with her, send: ‘next time when/if you stay. back scratches’;
     • (iii) On 26 November 2023, send Pupil A a text saying that Sundays were good for sleepovers and back scratches; and
     • (iv) On 4 December 2023, send: ‘lying in bed feeling sorry for myself. Top of the list of wants is a back scratch (sad face emoji)’;
   • (w) On various occasions, ask Pupil A to spend time with him, including:
     
     • (i) On 3 November 2023. invite Pupil A to watch the fireworks with him in his car;
     • (ii) On 5 November 2023, ask Pupil A to let him know if she wanted to do something during the week;
     • (iii) On 5 November 2023, discuss getting a coffee with Pupil A on Tuesday;
     • (iv) On 8 November 2023, ask Pupil A to let him know if she wanted to do something together;
     • (v) On 8 November 2023, suggest to Pupil A that they could do something together;
     • (vi) On 10 November 2023, suggest to Pupil A via text that she could come to his house after she finished work;
     • (vii) On 11 November 2023, suggest to Pupil A via text that she could have ‘crashed’ at his house after their dinner;
     • (viii) On 12 November 2023, offer Pupil A a lift home from [redacted] multiple times despite her saying no;
     • (ix) On 20 November 2023, ask Pupil A to hang out;
     • (x) On 28 November 2023, ask Pupil A to‘hang out;
     • (xi) On 30 November 2023, ask Pupil A if she needed picked up, after being told that her mum was picking her up;
     • (xii) On 1 December 2023, offer to take Pupil A and her friend home from [redacted]; and
     • (xiii) On 3 December 2023, ask Pupil A if she wanted dinner;
   • (x) On 21 November 2023, send flirtatious texts to Pupil A stating:
     
     • (i) ‘Knock knock’, ‘who’s there?’, ‘Ion’, ‘Ion who?’, ‘I’ve got my ion you’; and
     • (ii) ‘Knock knock’, ‘who’s there?’, Baby owl’, ‘Baby owl who?’, ‘Baby owl see you later at my place’;
   • (y) On 3 November 2023, share the location of his house with Pupil A;
   • (z) On 3 and 5 November 2023, share a photo of his cat with Pupil A;
   • (aa) On 5, 7, 14 and 20 November 2023, share photos of his classroom with Pupil A;
   • (bb) On 23 November 2023, send Pupil A a photo of himself;
   • (cc) On 30 November 2023, send Pupil A a photo of his full bath with a candle;
   • (dd) On 30 November 2023, sketch what he thought Pupil A’s bedroom configuration looked like and send this to her via text message;
   • (ee) On 8 November 2023, try to influence Pupil A to take [redacted], a subject offered at [redacted] School, as he had been asked to support teaching this class at [redacted] School;  
   • (ff) Between 25 October 2023 and 4 December 2024, text Pupil A using his personal mobile number, including, but not limited to, the following messages:
     
     • (i) On 28 October 2023: ‘you definitely look older than you are. In a good way, though of course’;
     • (ii) On 28 October 2023: ‘yeah, and I'm not really sure what the rules are for that kind of thing but I’m almost certain it’s against the rules’;
     • (iii) On 3 November 2023: ‘You were awfully smiley today. Just pointing that one out, here’;
     • (iv) On 3 November 2023: ‘I’m just an animal person. Like that puppy that was in the pub tonight. He had my attention even slightly more than you did (laughing emoji)’;
     • (v) On 8 November 2023: ‘Well, I mean; can always do something a bit more than coffee if you fancy. I’m avoiding the term of ‘date’ here but you catch my drift’;
     • (vi) On 13 November 2023: ‘but yeah, weekdays may be a problem for us this week. I have weekend ideas though’;
     • (vii) On 18 November 2023: ‘I mean, I imagine probably not tonight but let it be known that you’re more than welcome’;
     • (viii) On 19 November 2023:‘I’m making the bold assumption you’d like to do something else at some point’;
     • (ix) On 24 November 2023: ‘I reckon you should come round after work tomorrow. Tired or not;’
     • (x) On 22 November 2023, in relation to Pupil A saying it would be a perfect time to have fluffy socks as the Teacher’s heating was broken: ‘you could bring me some’;
     • (xi) On 23 November 2023, in relation to telling Pupil A he had plans: ‘<insert pick up line>’;
     • (xii) On 23 November 2023: ‘I’m being spontaneous. We’re going out for an hour or so’;
     • (xiii) On 27 November 2023, after thanking her for hanging out: ’And it was your idea (kiss emoji)’;
     • (xiv) On 28 November 2023,in the context of saying he missed seeing Pupil A when he was visiting her school for professional reasons: ‘For the best. I can’t remain a man of mystery if I was spotted I support eh’;
     • (xv) On 28 November 2023, in relation to finding out that Pupil A drew a heart on a whiteboard for him: ‘cute. It made me smile’;
     • (xvi) On 30 November 2023, in relation to having to cancel his trip: ‘Yeah, woe is me. Good news for you though, you don’t have to cat-sit’;
     • (xvii) On 30 November 2023, after giving pupil A a lift to work and offering her a lift home: ‘I have requirements that must be met prior. We discuss that closer to the time’ and ‘1) a compliment 2) something I don’t know about you 3)???’;
     • (xviii) On 30 November 2023, after Pupil A shared photos of her bedroom: ‘well SOMEONE isn’t comfortable enough with me it seems (emoji with steam coming out of nose)’;
     • (xix) On 30 November 2023: ‘school > [redacted] > [redacted] > Dinner > Movie > Crash > ???’;
     • (xx) On 1 December 2023, following comments to Pupil A that he had bought a Christmas related item: ‘come see I guess. I see no other way to resolve the mystery’;
     • (xxi) On 1 December 2023, after being told by Pupil A that she was on the bus home from [redacted] with her friend: ‘then I get you after’;
     • (xxii) On 4 December 2023, after being told by Pupil A that she had double free periods: ‘so you’re bringing me children noodle soup I presume’ and ‘sounds like a “2 birds with 1 stone” kind of scenario’;
     • (xxiii) On 4 December 2023, in relation to Pupil A saying he was nice and thoughtful: ‘the whole package…except old (emoji rolling eyes)’;
2. On 5 December 2023, whilst employed as a teacher at [redacted] by [redacted], the Teacher did state to Colleague C, Depute Head Teacher at [redacted], that there was no physical activity at any stage between him and Pupil A, when he knew this was not the case.
3. The Teacher’s actions at allegation 2 were dishonest or, in the alternative, lacking in integrity in that he sought to represent that his relationship with Pupil A was not physical, when in fact he had engaged in a physical relationship with Pupil A
4. The Teacher’s actions at allegation 1 were sexually motivated.

And in light of the above, it is alleged that the Teacher’s fitness to teach is impaired and/or he is unfit to teach, as a result of breaching Parts 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, and 2.3 of the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct 2012.

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