A disciplinary hearing into a principal’s drunken behaviour in front of pupils has found her teaching is “impaired”.
Gillian Rew was the headteacher of Arbroath High School when she drank at least eight glasses of wine and engaged in “improper contact” and “inappropriate conversations” with sixth year students on an adventure trip to Lockerbie.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland found her “ability to teach is impaired” after a two-day hearing, but stopped short of ruling she is unfit to teach.
Mrs Rew, who taught in Dundee for more than two decades and now works for the EIS teachers’ union, faces sanctions ranging from no further action to removal from the teachers’ register.
She admitted that she engaged in “inappropriate conversations with, made inappropriate comments to and had improper contact with pupils”, while under the influence of alcohol.
But she denied she was unfit to teach and hopes to return to the classroom.
The incident happened on the night of a fashion show, ceilidh and disco in September 2014 at Lockerbie Manor activity centre, where S6 pupils were taking part in an adventure weekend.
Mrs Rew told the fitness to teach panel she was “mortified” and “absolutely ashamed” by her behaviour.
For more on this story see tomorrow’s paper edition of The Courier.
