The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Teacher, 33, denies sexual allegations against girls
An Angus music teacher is to stand trial later this year facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards three girls while working at a Fife school.
Dean Bromage, of Fotheringham Drive, Monifieth, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on an indictment detailing three charges alleged to have taken place over a three-year period at a Fife high school.
Bromage, who was represented in court by defence solicitor Alexander Flett, has denied all the charges he is facing and evidence is expected to be heard when the case goes to trial on July 26.
The 33-year-old is accused of sexual activity directed towards a girl under the age of 18 at the Fife school on various occasions between August 1, 2012, and August 1, 2013, in that he directed sexual verbal communications towards her, repeatedly cuddled her and touched her on the bottom over her clothing.
Bromage is also charged with the same offences against a second girl between August 1, 2014, and August 1, 2015, and directing sexual communications towards and repeatedly cuddling a third girl between August 1, 2012, and August 1, 2015.
All three charges state Bromage had been in a position of trust in relation to the girls and was supposed to be looking after them.
Mr Flett told the court he is prepared for trial, with funding for legal aid in place through Bromage’s trade union.
Confirming Bromage was a teacher at the time of the alleged offences, Mr Flett noted there may be an issue with a defence witness – understood to be a teacher – whose wife is pregnant and is due to give birth in early August.
However, he had no opposition to a trial date being set for July 26.
Procurator fiscal Ronnie Hay told the court prosecutors are also ready for trial and suggested the Crown would refer to teaching records when it leads evidence against Bromage.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahony continued the case to trial, with Bromage remaining on bail.
New Dunfermline secondary schools on a super campus with Fife College will go up for public discussion next month.
Consultation will start after the Easter holidays on the plan to replace Woodmill High School and St Columba’s RC High School at Halbeath Interchange.
The learning campus at the former Shepherd Offshore site will be the first of its kind in Scotland, and parents, pupils and teachers and the wider community will be able to have their say during a series of online public meetings and drop-in sessions.
Pupils are already involved in the design of the new Dunfermline secondary schools, south of Calaiswood Crescent, working with a team from Edinburgh University.
Even before a major fire destroyed part of Woodmill High School in August 2019, both schools’ buildings were rated as in poor condition and their replacement was a key element of Fife Council’s strategy for Dunfermline and West Fife secondary provision.
Their co-location with the college will, according to the council, allow young people to access a wider range of courses, experiences and opportunities on a single campus.
The council’s education and children’s services subcommittee approved the consultation process yesterday.
Head of education and children’s services, Shelagh McLean, said: “The colocation on site with the college provides an opportunity to bring together the work being done by the council to replace Woodmill and St Columba’s high schools with the work being done by the college, to create an exciting new learning campus.”
Committee convener Craig Walker said the development was a “genuinely exciting” one.
He said: “It’s a huge opportunity for children and young people to come together and integrate to learn, and will have benefits for many, many years to come.”
The cost of the two new Dunfermline secondary schools and college campus is estimated at between £180 million and £200m, with the Scottish Government funding the entire college, up to £90m, and up to half of the school in revenue funding.
The new schools will retain their own identities, with a shared department of additional support, currently located at Woodmill.
Each will have its own classrooms but the schools will share some accommodation, such as assembly halls, dining space and some senior phase curricular areas.
They will also have access to learning plazas and Skills Academy facilities and increased outdoor learning spaces, which could be used if there is a future need for social distancing.
Nicola Sturgeon could spell out her hopes for a second independence referendum directly on the Holyrood election ballot paper.
The SNP asked the Electoral Commission for permission to use the familiar “Indyref2” shorthand as a way of describing the party.
Three applications were made with options for “Both Votes SNP for IndyRef2”, “Nicola Sturgeon for SNP First Minister” and “Vote SNP for IndyRef2”.
The tactic emerged as the SNP moves closer to publishing a Bill on a second vote on the constitution. It is understood the party could be ready to reveal plans on timing and a potential question.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the SNP is going “full steam ahead”.
He added: “Their priority is clear – Indyref2 at all costs. It’s the height of recklessness that shows an extreme disregard for Scotland’s recovery efforts.”
Conservatives also asked the elections watchdog to allow them to put the constitution on the ballot paper.
The party submitted requests to display “End Division, No Referendum, Rebuild Scotland” and “Not Another Referendum, Time for Recovery”.
The Electoral Commission in Scotland aims to work through the requests this month.
Recent polls suggest the SNP’s hope for a majority hangs in the balance ahead of the election on May 6. Voters also appear to be stubbornly split on independence.
Ms Sturgeon could claim a mandate for a referendum if elected with a majority on that ticket.
If she falls short, the Scottish Green Party might have enough MSPs to maintain a proindependence balance at the Scottish Parliament.
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to give ground on another vote on Scotland’s future.
“Priority is clear – Indyref2 at all costs