Schools chief accused of covering up child bullying

A TEACHING official covered up allegations that a headteacher was bullying a disabled child, it has been claimed.

David Wright, the former senior education manager of schools at City of Edinburgh Council, was responsible for investigating seven complaints made by the parents of a primary-age child about t he headteacher’s conduct.

But it is claimed that Mr Wright failed to investigate the complaints and even lied to the family in a bid to protect colleagues.

It is understood that Mr Wright retired in 2013 but if the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) charges are found proven, he could be banned from ever working in a classroom.

All complaints relate to the period from September 2010 to June 2011 and include allegations of ‘inappropriate handling of Pupil A by members of teaching staff’ and ‘bullying and discrimination of Pupil A by the headteacher’.

The charges against Mr Wright state that in the period in question, he ‘did not investigate or review the complaints towards resolution or conciliation’.

It is further alleged that he stated in an email of June 6, 2011, that he ‘had become involved in the case of [Pupil A] principally to protect the headteacher’.

Mr Wright is set to face the charges at a GTCS hearing later this month.