Notes on trees call for teacher to be sacked

Police informed after ‘malicious notices’ claim teacher threatened pupil

Education chiefs have reported to police “malicious notices” regarding a senior teacher at Monifieth High School after they appeared pinned to trees along a popular walking route.

Angus Council confirmed it has informed Police Scotland about the signs, one of which calls for a teacher to be fired for “threatening” a disabled pupil, after being alerted to its presence near the school on Thursday.

The notices were posted on a path near the Seven Arches Viaduct and include the surname and first initial of a teacher at Monifieth High. The route is regularly used by pupils and families walking to and from the school.

Council bosses declined to say whether they had received any complaints regarding the staff member or concerns about the treatment of disabled youngsters at the school, but confirmed the matter is now being dealt with by officers.

A council spokesman said: “We are aware of malicious notices that were posted in the area and have referred the matter to Police Scotland.”

Councillor Craig Fotheringham, whose Monifieth and Sidlaw ward covers an area where many of the school’s pupils live, said he was “fully behind” the teacher involved.

He said: “They have my full sympathy and my full support. As a former pupil at the school, which has one of the best records of attainment in the whole of Angus, I’m very disappointed to hear this.

“I happened to be at the school last night and I’ve not heard a single complaint about any of the teachers or any concerns of this nature in regards to pupils – and believe me, I would have done. There was certainly no mention of this when I was there.

“I would say just get these signs down and grow up. I don’t know the teacher involved but I’m fully behind them.”

A notice first highlighted to The Courier on Thursday appeared to have been taken down yesterday afternoon but it is not known how many other signs have been reported to Monifieth High School or the local authority.

Police Scotland were provided with the location and nature of the incident, along with confirmation the council had reported the matter. They were also given a map showing the approximate location of one of the notices.

It is understood Angus Council first contacted officers on Wednesday to raise their concerns.

More than 24 hours after being approached by The Courier, the force was unable to find details to provide comment.