Former head teacher at Sutherland primary school cleared of failing to protect pupils from colleague’s alleged bullying and intimidation

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A SUTHERLAND teacher has been cleared of allegations made against her over a colleague’s alleged mistreatment of pupils.

But, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) found that Kirsten MacNeil, former head teacher at Gledfield Primary School, near Ardgay, breached its Code of Professionalism and Conduct in asking fellow members of staff to make false statements on two occasions.

Gledfield Primary School.

The GTCS has just published its findings in the case against Ms MacNeil, following a 10-day hearing spread over several months earlier this year.

The hearings were to determine whether she had failed to protect pupils from alleged bullying, intimidation, humiliation and physical and other abuse by another teacher between August 2016 and September 2019.

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More than a dozen allegations were dismissed as “not proved” and Ms MacNeil is free to continue teaching.

However, she admitted two allegations of dishonesty for asking a probationary member of staff to record that she had been observed by another teacher when she had not.

She also admitted that she had asked a member of staff at Edderton Primary School to state that they had attended a child protection training service when this did not happen.

Ms MacNeil agreed that her actions were lacking in integrity.

The panel found her conduct had breached several standards and considered that the “allegations of dishonesty were serious”.

However the “context existing at the time of the misconduct” was taken into account.

It also took into account as a mitigating factor that Ms MacNeil had sought support from her manager, but none had been forthcoming. She was left “isolated, unsupported and overwhelmed”.

The GTCS panel also noted that the teacher is now in a mentoring relationship.

The panel concluded: “The panel considered the evidence of her colleagues and various positive testimonials produced on her behalf.

“The panel determined that the teacher had demonstrated insight into her conduct and had addressed the issues that had caused her to act as she did.

“The panel considered that the teacher has remedied the shortfalls identified by her actions outlined above.

“The panel was satisfied that if similar circumstances arose, the teacher would recognise and take appropriate steps including discussion with her mentor and that it was very unlikely that there would be any recurrence of the shortfalls identified.”

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