Former Berwickshire High School teacher struck off by teaching watchdog
A GTCS panel found John Kerr made an inappropriate remark about a pupil's clothing and belittled and pushed other students. He denied the allegations.
Berwickshire High School, Duns. File photo. · Photograph: Jim Barton (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A former history and modern studies teacher at Berwickshire High School in Duns has been removed from the teaching register after a disciplinary panel found a series of allegations against him proved.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), which regulates the teaching profession, held a hearing into the conduct of John Kerr, now 75, relating to incidents more than seven years ago.
The allegations
The panel found that in December 2018, when a pupil asked whether he would be going to the school's production of Grease, Mr Kerr said words to the effect that he would if she was going to be wearing a low-cut crop top and tight trousers.
Mr Kerr denied that the conversation took place and said he had not been aware of the production. He told the hearing he had been in Seville for ten days at the time.
The panel also found that in February 2019 he shouted at a second pupil, spat on his own hand and wiped it on the pupil's arm, and pushed the student.
Several statements made to a third pupil were also found proved, including telling the pupil they would never be as smart as him and that they were thick and stupid and would never make anything of their life.
One further allegation, that he told a pupil he was going to burn them, was found not proved. Mr Kerr said he had never used the phrase.
The decision
Mr Kerr's representative told the hearing that, at 75, he had no plans to return to teaching and argued that no sanction was necessary.
The panel said it had taken into account how long ago the events were and that he had not returned to the classroom since shortly afterwards. But it found the conduct very serious, involving multiple pupils in three separate incidents, and said it showed a pattern of concerning behaviour.
It ruled that he was unfit to teach and ordered that he be removed from the register for one year.
What the GTCS does
All teachers in Scottish schools must be registered with the GTCS. When concerns are raised about a teacher's conduct or competence, the council can investigate and hold fitness to teach hearings. Sanctions range from a reprimand to removal from the register, which means a teacher cannot work in Scottish schools until they successfully reapply.