Shamed Glasgow drama trainer who had former pupil’s child struck off
A Glasgow drama teacher has been banned from the profession after admitting to a sexual relationship with a former pupil and having his child, a teaching panel was told
The teacher was struck off (stock)(Image: Alistair Berg via Getty Images)
A shamed Glasgow teacher who had sex with a former pupil and had his baby has been barred from the classroom. The teacher – who has been granted anonymity – began a sexual relationship with the 18-year-old after he had departed school before delivering his child in July 2021.
While working for Glasgow City Council, the drama teacher was alleged to have participated in sexual conduct when the pupil was under 18 and still at school, prompting a police inquiry. Nevertheless, these allegations were deemed not proven by the General Teaching Council (GTCS) panel.
An additional allegation that she commenced an intimate relationship with him between November 2018 and June 2019 was likewise found not proven.
The teacher acknowledges maintaining a sexual relationship with the teen between December 2019 and an unknown date in 2022, when he was aged between 18 and 20 years-old. The woman delivered the then teenager’s child in July 2021, at which point the couple were no longer together.
She also confessed to driving alone with the pupil in her vehicle and travelling on public transport alongside him, reports Glasgow Live.
It was highlighted in the GTCS’ report that the teen had messaged the woman and pledged he would “finish her career as a teacher”. Due to him withdrawing allegations in a letter to the teacher’s solicitor, and her ability to provide evidence demonstrating that she had travelled on holiday to Tenerife on dates he claimed they were together in 2018, some of his evidence was deemed “inconsistent” and therefore not proven.
He declined to participate in the proceedings.
The report states: “The teacher gave evidence that the sexual relationship had not commenced until after the pupil had left school, and that while he was a pupil, their relationship had been professional at all times, albeit relaxed. She now recognised that she should have maintained clearer boundaries.”
Findings on the woman’s fitness to teach read: “The Panel found that the teacher failed to maintain appropriate boundaries and that her lack of developed insight presented a current risk to herself and others, the behaviour had not been remedied and there was a likelihood of reoccurrence. On this basis, the Panel found her fitness to teach impaired at the current date.
“On considering how far short she fell of the professional standards, the Panel determined that there was a significant falling short given the seriousness of the circumstances, lack of insight and lack of evidence of remediation. They also noted the lack of references and there being no evidence of training in relation to boundaries or resilience.
“The Panel were of the view that the public interest was engaged. They noted the importance of maintaining confidence in the profession and the regulator. The Panel were of the view that a reasonably informed member of the public would expect the regulator to consider the conduct displayed fell significantly short of what was expected by a teacher.
“The Panel had a duty to declare the full standards and ensure a deterrent effect. The Panel therefore found the teacher unfit to teach.”
The woman has now been struck off the register and is barred from applying for re-registration for a period of two years.
