A permanent head teacher has been appointed at Arbroath High School in the wake of the scandal surrounding the previous figurehead.
Angus Council has confirmed Bruce Pandrich as the new head teacher, formalising his status in the top post that he had held on an acting basis for the past year following the suspension of Gillian Rew.
Mr Pandrich, who was formerly deputy head at Montrose Academy, was brought in last February following a short period during which Doreen Redfern was interim head teacher at the school following an investigation into Mrs Rew’s behaviour on a senior school trip to Lockerbie in September 2014.
Mrs Rew, a former depute rector at Morgan Academy in Dundee, found herself at the centre of an inquiry in the wake of the weekend adventure trip, a performance reward for senior school youngsters.
She then became the subject of a criminal investigation after a report was submitted to the procurator fiscal in connection with the matter.
The exact nature of the complaint against Mrs Rew has not been disclosed, but it is understood to have related to alleged inappropriate behaviour while under the influence.
Police previously confirmed the inquiry did not involve any allegation of supplying alcohol to minors.
However, after a lengthy inquiry, the Crown Office said it would not be pursuing proceedings against Mrs Rew following “full and careful consideration” of the facts in the case.
Highly-regarded by youngsters at the 920-pupil Keptie Road secondary who flooded social media with messages of support in the immediate aftermath of her suspension Mrs Rew was subsequently dismissed by Angus Council after the authority’s own disciplinary process ran its course.
Although that decision was appealed the sacking was upheld towards the end of last year.
Mrs Rew may still face action by the General Teaching Council for Scotland and it is understood the matter was referred to the body under normal practice in such situations.