Woman teacher struck off for sex with boys at £29k-a-year school

A FEMALE teacher from one of Scotland’s most exclusive private schools has agreed to be struck off after having sex with pupils on the premises.

Scotland’s teaching watchdog has been criticised over the case after it tried to keep the name of the teacher, her gender and school secret.

But we can reveal she is a 36-year-old woman who worked at £29,000-a-year Merchiston Castle school in Edinburgh.

She was charged by police but has not yet been prosecuted. The teacher, known in the hearing as Respondent A, repeatedly had sex with a number of male pupils aged 17 or 18 during 2014 and 2015.

She also admitted to constantly sending sexually explicit videos to a male pupil in February 2015. Yesterday the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) accepted a removal with consent order from the teacher admitting to the charges and agreeing to be struck off.

But the GTCS approved an application from the teacher for the entire hearing to be held in private on the grounds of protecting vulnerable pupils. The charges, signed by Respondent A, stated that ‘During the 2014/15 session, .... in the knowledge that pupils were not permitted to leave the school premises, you did repeatedly permit the pupils to leave the premises through your residence at the school and in so doing you did breach the school’s residency policy.’

A second charges stated that: ‘During the 2014/15 session, you did on school premises, repeatedly engage in sexual intercourse with male pupils who were then aged between 17 and 18 years.

‘During February 2015, you did repeatedly send by electronic means, videos of a sexually explicit nature to a male pupil.’

It was added that the teacher also communicated with pupils over a Facebook group created by pupils called Organised Bullying.

Sexual abuse charity The Survivors Trust said: ‘We have seen the benefits of naming an alleged offender of a sexual offence as it allows other people who’ve witnessed this teacher’s behaviour and indeed other victims to come forward and inform the police.

‘This may be unlikely if the name of the teacher and/or school is not publicised. We hope the case has been passed to the police.’ A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Police in Edinburgh can confirm that a 34-year-old woman was charged in November 2015.’

A Crown Office spokesman yesterday said: ‘The Procurator Fiscal received a report concerning a 34-year-old woman in connection with alleged incidents. There are currently no proceedings but the Crown reserves the right to raise proceedings should further evidence become available.’

A GTCS spokesman said: ‘Our Fitness to Teach panels consider evidence including the risk of vulnerable witnesses being identified when taking the decision to hold any hearing in private.’ A spokesman or the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association said: ‘In this case we agree with GTCS and it may be that by identifying one individual you identify the pupils or young people involved.’

Andrew Hunter, headmaster at Merchiston Castle, said: ‘We sincerely regret that, despite the school relentlessly pursuing the highest child safety standards, this individual ignored all of our policies and procedures and acted in this shocking way.

‘We immediately informed Police Scotland when suspicions were raised.’

‘We hope the case has been passed to police’