PETER MCFARLANE FROM CUMBERNAULD STRUCK OFF TEACHING AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL IN SCOTLAND

In a significant disciplinary action, Peter McFarlane, a former secondary school teacher from Cumbernauld, has been officially removed from the teaching register following a serious criminal conviction involving indecent images of children. The case has garnered considerable attention due to the nature and scale of the offences committed by Mr. McFarlane.

It was revealed that Mr. McFarlane was found to possess nearly 2,500 indecent images depicting children on his personal computer. This discovery led to his conviction at Airdrie Sheriff Court last year, where he was sentenced and subsequently placed on the sex offenders register. The gravity of his actions prompted the General Teaching Council for Scotland to take decisive disciplinary measures against him.

Earlier, Mr. McFarlane, who was employed as a history teacher at Cumbernauld High School, faced additional scrutiny due to a prior criminal conviction. In August 2010, he was found guilty of vandalism after slashing the tyres and seats of a car with a knife in Glenboig, North Lanarkshire. During that incident, he was also convicted of driving while over twice the legal alcohol limit, highlighting a pattern of concerning behavior.

The disciplinary panel of the General Teaching Council for Scotland, which convened in Edinburgh, reviewed the case and concluded that Mr. McFarlane’s conduct was profoundly incompatible with the responsibilities of a registered teacher. The panel emphasized that the offences, particularly the possession of indecent images of children, demonstrated a serious breach of professional standards and a fundamental failure to uphold the integrity expected of educators.

It was noted that Mr. McFarlane had attempted to appeal his conviction related to the indecent images, but his appeal was ultimately refused. Despite the seriousness of the case, Mr. McFarlane chose not to attend the hearing in person. The council’s fitness to teach panel made it clear that his conduct rendered him unfit to continue in the teaching profession.

Following the decision, Mr. McFarlane was struck off the teaching register, effectively ending his career as an educator. He was given a 14-day window to lodge an appeal against the ruling, but as of now, the decision stands. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of professional bodies in Scotland to maintain high standards of safety and integrity within the teaching community, especially in cases involving the exploitation of children and related criminal conduct.