A Dundee teacher who admitted assaulting a pupil by grabbing his jacket while trying to “tell him off” is to face a hearing from the teaching watchdog.
Peter McInnes, previously described as having a “superb record” from his 40 years in the profession, will appear in front of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) this week.
It follows an incident in 2019 when McInnes grabbed and tore a 12-year-old boy’s jacket while the youngster tried to run off from him in the playground.
He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court 2022 and admitted a charge of assault.
At the time, McInnes was working as a supply drama teacher at the high school in Dundee, which cannot be named as it may identify the victim.
The court heard McInnes approached the pupil after they swore.
Depute fiscal Rachel Hill said: “As he did so, the complainer tried to run away, at which time the accused grabbed the rear of the complainer’s jacket, at the bottom of the jacket, causing it to rip.”
Dundee teacher faces hearing over pupil assault which he was admonished over
McInnes, aged 64 at the time, was admonished by Sheriff John Rafferty, meaning no further action was taken by the court.
Sheriff Rafferty said: “Any assault on a child is something the court has to take very seriously, even more so when it is committed by someone in a position of trust.
“You have a superb record as a teacher, which is not only unblemished but good.
“You held the position of head of teacher training.”
He added: “In these circumstances, I will take the exceptional step of admonishing you.”
McInnes’s lawyer told the court: “I would submit that this is a low-level incident.”
He added that although McInnes had retired from full-time teaching, he wanted to remain on the teaching register so he could work in a supply role.
General Teaching Council Scotland to hold hearing into teacher’s conduct
The GTCS hearing will consider whether McInnes is fit to teach following his conviction.
A hearing is set to take place over two days this week.
If the watchdog finds McInnes’s fitness to teach is compromised, options include placing restrictions on his registration as a teacher or removing him from the register.
The Courier has approached McInnes for comment.
Last week, we told how an Angus teacher was also facing a GTCS hearing over a series of what it called “abusive and offensive” Facebook posts, along with a conviction for shouting at pupils with additional needs and throwing a book across a classroom.
However, Philippe Magalon’s hearing was postponed on Friday until a future date.
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