EXCLUSIVE: Council 'sorry' for Highland teacher’s 'inappropriate behaviour' towards girl (15)
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A TEACHER at a Highland school has been found to have "behaved in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner" towards a female pupil, including comments of a sexual nature.
The student in question was 15 when this inappropriate behaviour started and she has since left the school, citing her treatment by the teacher as a contributing factor.
Multiple complaints were submitted but the family of the girl at the centre of the most serious allegations have been informed that an investigation by Highland Council has upheld their complaint.
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Derek Martin, the council's area education and learning manager, stated in a letter to parents that he was “sorry for the distress caused” and apologised that their daughter was “treated in such a poor manner and that suitable and robust arrangements were not effectively put in place at school”.
Although the identity of the teacher and the school are known to The Inverness Courier and the wider community, we have chosen to withhold their names at this stage. This is due to the probe expanding – Mr Martin said: “Further investigations are under way” because the “complaint has brought other matters to the attention of the local authority”.
The allegations impacted multiple pupils, with the most serious focused on a student over a number of months when she was 15 and 16 years old.
During a four-month investigation, The Inverness Courier interviewed pupils and adults. Some witnesses documented comments made by the teacher and others corroborated claims.
Alleged incidents include the teacher using degrading language when a pupil asked to go to the toilet. It is also alleged that he suggested a pupil open a strip club for a female student to work at, stating that he would be a customer.
Students described the teacher's behaviour as inappropriate, emphasising his uncomfortable closeness, including touching their hair.
Furthermore, witnesses claim the teacher presented the pupil at the centre of complaints with a gift after taking her into a small room, leaving her feeling unsettled. This incident was widely known throughout the school and community at the time, and was seen by her parents as the last straw after months of concerns about the teacher’s behaviour.
The council has upheld the complaint, summarising the issues as follows:
• [Teacher’s name redacted], a teacher at [school’s name redacted], has behaved in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner in class; and that over time these behaviours have become more directed at your daughter, [pupil’s name redacted].
• This has had a detrimental effect on [pupil’s name redacted]’s education.
Mr Martin stated: “I am sorry that [pupil’s name redacted] was treated in such a poor manner and that suitable and robust arrangements were not effectively put in place at school.
“I am sorry for the distress caused by the actions of [teacher’s name redacted] and the need for school management to reflect on their support for pupils as their primary concern.
“The council will work with the school to ensure that there is a clear understanding of the expectations required in line with its policies for safeguarding, wellbeing and complaints.”
Serious questions are now being asked by people connected with the school about the official response and how staff treated the issue.
Pupils and local sources have alleged that other teachers at the school – we are withholding their names – behaved in a hostile way to students due to these allegations.
The parents first submitted their complaint on April 17, 2023, and despite reaching some of the highest ranking members of Highland Council, it took almost 12 months to deliver the results of the investigation.
The local area education manager and investigator says they are unable to release details of any actions taken against the teacher in question due to employment law.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “An investigation has been carried out following a complaint at [school's named redacted]. Appropriate actions have been taken and the complainant has been updated.”
