PETER MCINNES FROM DUNDEE FACES DISCIPLINARY HEARING OVER 2019 JACKET INCIDENT

Peter McInnes, a seasoned educator from Dundee with an impressive teaching career spanning over four decades, is now preparing to confront a disciplinary hearing conducted by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GCTS). This development follows an incident that took place in 2019, which has since come under scrutiny and led to legal proceedings.

In that year, McInnes was recorded engaging in an altercation with a 12-year-old student on the school playground. The footage shows McInnes grabbing and tearing the boy’s jacket after the student attempted to flee following an exchange of swear words. The incident raised serious concerns about the conduct of a trusted adult in a school environment, prompting further investigation.

Legal proceedings in 2022 confirmed that McInnes admitted to a charge of assault related to this incident. At the time, he was employed as a supply drama teacher at a high school in Dundee, although the specific school has not been publicly named to protect the identity of the young victim. During the court hearing, the prosecution detailed how McInnes approached the student after he swore, and when the boy tried to escape, McInnes responded by grabbing the back of his jacket at the bottom, which resulted in the fabric ripping.

Sheriff John Rafferty presided over the case and issued a stern warning to McInnes. The sheriff emphasized that any assault on a child is a matter of grave concern, especially when committed by someone in a position of trust and authority. Despite the seriousness of the incident, Sheriff Rafferty acknowledged McInnes’s otherwise unblemished record and his role as head of teacher training, which contributed to a decision to admonish him rather than impose more severe sanctions. The sheriff explicitly stated that he was taking the 'exceptional step of admonishing' McInnes without further disciplinary action.

McInnes’s legal representative argued that the incident was minor, describing it as a 'low-level incident.' They also highlighted that although McInnes has retired from full-time teaching, he wishes to remain on the teaching register to continue working in supply roles. The upcoming GCTS hearing will determine whether McInnes is still considered fit to teach. Possible outcomes include restrictions on his teaching activities or removal from the register altogether if his fitness is deemed compromised.

In a related note, the article mentions that last week, another teacher from Angus was scheduled for a GCTS hearing concerning allegations of inappropriate Facebook posts and prior misconduct. The teacher was accused of shouting at pupils with additional needs and improperly throwing a classroom book, although that hearing was postponed. The article underscores the importance of the disciplinary process in upholding teaching standards and ensuring the safety and well-being of students across Scotland.