Teacher ‘took girl pupil on pub trip’
A FORMER Largs Academy teacher could be struck off after being accused of an alleged inappropriate relationship with a pupil.
Gavin Dunsmuir who no longer works at the secondary school, is also accused of attending a public house with the pupil, and taking her into the home of a colleague.
Their alleged relationship developed between March and August 2015, and now Mr Dunsmuir’s fitness to teach is being scrutinised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
The pupil in question, who is now 20, is believed to have left the school three years ago.
A full hearing opened last week at the General Teaching Council.
Mr Dunsmuir, an RE teacher, did not attend or send any legal representative on his behalf.
Giving evidence, Lynsey Muir, a PE teacher at Largs Academy, told the panel that she encountered Mr Dunsmuir and a group of pupils at a public house in Largs.
She said: “Gavin came into the pub with Pupil A and several other pupils.
“There were four or five in total.
“Their body language was close, turning to each other.
“It was in the summer of 2015, so she would’ve been at the end of sixth year.
“A fellow teacher said she spotted the pupil in Mr Dunsmuir’s classroom on a daily basis
“She was a sensitive girl with a heart of gold.
“She lacked self-confidence.’
Miss Muir, who stated she recalled seeing the pupil alone in Mr Dunsmuir’s classroom on a regular basis, added: “I asked Gavin about pupil A and he told me he was a mentor to her.”
Also providing evidence at the hearing was Alan Leishman, a chem- istry teacher at the school.
He said: ‘I felt Pupil A and Gavin developed a relationship.
“I saw them on exam day, she had been at his house but I didn’t ask why.
“I recall him saying the pupil went as a surprise for his daughter. Pupil A got on well with his daughter. He said he was going to use her as a babysitter.
“I recall saying to Gavin not to get too close.
“Gavin said she had issues and he knew not to get too close.
“I asked Gavin if anything was going on and he said ‘no’.’
Mr Leishman also told the panel that Mr Dunsmuir’s wife had told him the teacher and pupil were having a relationship.
The hearing has been adjourned, and will reconvene at a later date.