The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Head suspended after school trip will not face criminal charges
Exclusive: Arbroath High School headteacher is subject of inquiry by Angus Council and not back in post
Criminal charges against an Angus secondary school headteacher have been dropped.
Gillian Rew, of Arbroath High School, was suspended just weeks after a sixth-year trip to Lockerbie last September that resulted in allegations of inappropriate, drunken behaviour being made against her.
She was the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal and has remained suspended in the intervening months but it has now emerged the former depute rector at Morgan Academy in Dundee will not face court proceedings.
A Crown Office spokesperson said: “After full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, Crown Counsel decided that no criminal proceedings be taken in this case.”
However, Ms Rew, who is in her late 40s, remains the subject of an Angus Council inquiry, which the authority confirmed is once again live in the wake of the Crown Office decision.
The council said: “The member of staff remains suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation. That investigation has now resumed.”
The spokesperson declined to confirm whether or not the authority had contacted the General Teaching Council in relation to the probe.
Ms Rew was among staff members accompanying a group of senior pupils on the adventure weekend, a reward for their impressive performance during the year.
It is understood she became the subject of a complaint about her behaviour in front of the pupils early in the weekend.
Ms Rew – who was praised by a number of pupils online after details of the allegations and her suspension emerged – has at no stage been named by the council as the suspended employee.
But Arbroath High parents have received regular communication from the authority about personnel changes at the top of the secondary.
In a letter sent out by strategic director Margo Williamson ahead of the Angus schools’ summer break, the official said she could not offer “further clarity” on the situation.
Bruce Pandrich has been acting as interim head teacher at Arbroath High School.
Ms Williamson said: “This is due to the continuing suspension of a senior member of staff at the high school.
“Since October 2014, I have been in regular correspondence with the external agencies involved. As yet, there appears to be no further clarity I can offer you. As such, Mr Bruce Pandrich will continue in his acting role for the beginning of the new session.
“I am assured by the leadership team in the school and the staff this is not detracting from their commitment to do the very best for your children and I thank them sincerely for that.
“I appreciate your continuing forbearance with this situation and thank you for your support at this time.”
The member of staff remains suspended pending the outcome of an internal investiga– tion