Crieff teacher removed from register

Mar 30 2012 Strathearn Herald

A TEACHER accused of submitting essays for his pupils which they had not written has been removed from the General Teaching Council for Scotland's register.

Colin Cairns, a former English teacher at Crieff High School, had four charges found proved at a hearing this week.

A GTCS disciplinary sub-committee said Mr Cairns failed to uphold the standards of professional conduct expected of a registered teacher.

Members felt he had failed to act with integrity whilst making declarations or conducting tasks in connection with pupils examinations and in the particular circumstances of this case failed to act as a role model to those in his charge.

The incidents happened at the school in March, 2010.

The charges included that Mr Cairns had included an essay on the poem The Pied Piper in the Standard Grade English folio of one pupil without her knowledge and that he knew or ought to have known this was not her work. A second charge said that pupils portfolio was then passed on to the principal English teacher with the essay included.

Two further charges along similar lines involved an essay on the poem The Ruined City.

The sub-committee report said there was a considerably strained and tense atmosphere in the English department following Mr Cairns arrival.

Mr Cairns was also said to have been under stress from carrying out work for the school newspaper and study support classes.

The committee found The Pied Piper had not been taught to the class that year.

The Ruined City had not been added to their folio of work, according to the pupil involved.

The report says: "The sub-committee considered that the nature of the conduct contained within the charges held proven fell short of the standard expected of a registered teacher and therefore that the respondent (Mr Cairns) was guilty of conduct which had material relevance to the respondents fitness to be a registered teacher."

In coming to this decision the sub-committee took into account that Maurice Jamieson (advocate for Mr Cairns) on behalf of the respondent conceded that the misconduct amounted to relevant misconduct.

Mr Cairns was sacked by the council on October 28, 2010.

He can appeal the decision within 28 days.