Teacher suspended amid bully allegations

A primary headteacher has been suspended amid complaints about the handling of bullying allegations at her school.

Liz Walshe, head at Oxgangs Primary School in Edinburgh, is understood to be facing a disciplinary investigation.

One of the city’s most respected heads, Anthea Grierson from Juniper Green Primary, has been drafted in to take the helm at Oxgangs in the meantime.

Parent Stephanie Myers said she had lodged an official complaint and moved her two children to another school three weeks ago after her son became ill after being bullied.

A letter to parents from the school’s depute head Sarah Crole headed said: “I am writing to let you know Mrs Walshe will be out of school for the next few weeks. I’m pleased to let you know that Mrs Anthea Grierson, head teacher at Juniper, will cover in her absence.”

The school suffered massive disruption two years ago when it was at the centre of the crisis over structural faults at 17 city schools built under a public private partnership contract.

It was the collapse of an outer wall at Oxgangs that alerted officials to the problem. Pupils had to be taught elsewhere while checks and repairs were carried out.