Teacher Banned After Birth of Former Pupil's Child
A Glasgow drama teacher who gave birth to a former pupil's baby has been banned from teaching for a minimum of two years.
The woman, who has been granted anonymity, entered into a sexual relationship with the 18-year-old after he had left school. She gave birth to his child in July 2021.
A police investigation was initiated following accusations that the teacher engaged in sexual acts with the pupil while he was under 18 and still attending school. However, these allegations were found to be not proven by the General Teaching Council (GTCS) panel.
Additionally, a claim that the teacher had an intimate relationship with the pupil between November 2018 and June 2019 was also found not proven.
The teacher admitted to maintaining a sexual relationship with the young man between December 2019 and an unspecified date in 2022, during which time he was aged between 18 and 20.
Instagram Messages and Interactions
She also admitted to driving alone with the pupil in her car and travelling with him on public transport.
During her testimony, the teacher described a friendly atmosphere in the department where she worked, noting that many older pupils helped younger ones. She stated the teenager was one of the older pupils who regularly assisted.
However, she said the pupil would come to her classroom uninvited, which often made her feel uncomfortable.
She acknowledged that the teenager's recollection of the sexual conduct details was accurate but asserted that the events occurred at a later date.
The teacher explained that they did not exchange phone numbers but communicated via direct messages on her Instagram account.
The woman was no longer in a relationship with the pupil when she gave birth to his child in 2021.
She remarked that the relationship had occurred six years earlier and that she was a different person at the time of the hearing.
Threats and Evidence Inconsistencies
The GTCS report highlighted that the pupil had sent messages to the teacher vowing he would
"finish her career as a teacher".
Due to the pupil retracting allegations in a letter to the teacher's lawyer, and the teacher providing evidence that she had been on holiday in Tenerife on dates the pupil claimed they were together in 2018, some of his evidence was considered
"inconsistent"and therefore not proven.
The teenager declined to participate in the proceedings.
The report stated:
"The teacher gave evidence that the sexual relationship had not commenced until after the pupil had left school, and that while he was a pupil, their relationship had been professional at all times, albeit relaxed."
"She now recognised that she should have maintained clearer boundaries."
Fitness to Teach and Panel Findings
Regarding the teacher's fitness to teach, the report noted:
"The panel found that the teacher failed to maintain appropriate boundaries and that her lack of developed insight presented a current risk to herself and others, the behaviour had not been remedied and there was a likelihood of reoccurrence."
It further stated:
"On this basis, the panel found her fitness to teach impaired at the current date."
The panel also determined there was
"a significant falling short given the seriousness of the circumstances, lack of insight and lack of evidence of remediation."
They noted the absence of references and no evidence of training related to boundaries or resilience.
The report added:
"The panel were of the view that the public interest was engaged."
"They noted the importance of maintaining confidence in the profession and the regulator."
"The panel were of the view that a reasonably informed member of the public would expect the regulator to consider the conduct displayed fell significantly short of what was expected by a teacher."
It also stated that the panel had a duty to uphold full standards and ensure a deterrent effect.
The teacher has now been removed from the teaching register and is prohibited from applying for re-registration for two years.
