Former pupils of a retired Angus teacher will give evidence following allegations he formed an improper relationship with a teenage girl in his care.
Former Carnoustie High School maths, physics and IT teacher James Jamieson is alleged to have made inappropriate contact with a 16-year-old at school via social media and a mobile phone chat application between March and May 2012.
The matter will be heard before a panel of the General Teaching Council for Scotland in Edinburgh, where Mr Jamieson’s fitness to practice will be decided at a full hearing on Tuesday.
It is alleged he said that the girl was “lovely” and “his favourite” to other pupils in the class in December 2011, that he contacted her via the chat box of online game Word Feud, and made inappropriate comments to her the next year.
These included the comments: “Let’s just say you have been revising all night and I’m not texting a pupil, it can be our secret.”
On another occasion, it is alleged the pupil had been practising dancing, and he replied: “Wish I could see that.”
It is alleged he asked the girl to stay back at school on her own with him on several occasions.
After he retired in 2012, it is alleged he asked the pupil to be Facebook friends with him between March and May, asked her for her mobile telephone number in order to contact her via the online application WhatsApp.
The panel will decide whether Mr Jamieson’s fitness to teach is impaired as a result of breaching parts of the GTCS Code of Professionalism and Conduct 2008 and 2012.
Mr Jamieson denies the allegations.
The panel is expected to hear evidence from the former pupil, who has been granted the right to give evidence via video link as it was found “there was a significant risk that the quality of Pupil 1’s evidence would be diminished by reason of fear or distress.”
A number of former pupils will also give evidence, although they will also remain anonymous as the panel judged it would “not be in the public interest” to divulge their identities.
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “While we do not comment on individual staff matters, we can confirm this person is no longer employed by the council.”
The two-day hearing is expected to recommence on Friday.
