30% increase in teachers banned for misconduct

‘Inappropriate contact with pupils’

THE number of teachers who are being banned for misconduct is on the rise, with recent offences including substance abuse, violence and inappropriate relationships with pupils.

There were 22 teachers struck off the register in the year to October last year, a 30 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest number in at least four years.

Three were struck off for forming, or attempting to form, an inappropriate relationship with pupils, including one who faced an additional charge of dishonesty. One teacher was struck off for substance abuse and ‘behaviour of a violent, aggressive or threatening nature’.

Three were sacked for misconduct related to examinations, including one who was further censured for inappropriate conduct towards colleagues.

One was removed for ‘inappropriate contact with pupils’ and another for ‘inappropriate behaviour towards pupils and unprofessional behaviour towards colleagues’. Two were flagged during a Protection of Vulnerable Groups disclosure check. More than half were struck off for issues related to ‘competence’.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Willie Rennie said: ‘The overwhelming majority of teachers are hardworking and dedicated educators who would not dream of behaving badly.

‘It’s important that the small number who choose to break the rules are swiftly stripped of their roles and privileges.’

The NASUWT union has lodged a motion at its conference this weekend in Aberdeen warning that teachers are vulnerable to ‘unfounded allegations’ from pupils when enforcing behaviour rules in the classroom. The motion notes with ‘concern and great sadness’ the death of a Borders teacher – which was reported as suicide – while she was awaiting trial for an alleged assault on a pupil.

The union urged schools and education authorities to protect staff and offer more support, and it called for guidance from the Scottish Government.

The NASUWT’s Mike Corbett told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland: ‘The feedback that we get from members is that pupil behaviour issues are certainly more challenging.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said support for dealing with allegations ‘should be offered through local authorities, line management and staff welfare structures’.