Teacher who gave birth to ex-pupil's baby banned for two years

A Glasgow drama teacher who gave birth to a former pupil's baby has been banned from teaching for at least two years.

The woman, who has been granted anonymity, entered a sexual relationship with the 18-year-old after he had left school. She gave birth to his child in July 2021.

A police investigation was launched after the teacher was accused of having engaged in sexual acts when the pupil was under the age of 18 and still attending school.

However, these claims were found not proven by the General Teaching Council (GTCS) panel.

A further claim that she entered an intimate relationship with him between November 2018 and June 2019 was also found not proven.

The teacher admitted maintaining a sexual relationship with the boy between December 2019 and an unknown date in 2022, when he was aged between 18 and 20.

She also admitted driving alone with the pupil in her car and travelling on public transport with him.

She gave evidence that there was a more friendly atmosphere in the department where she worked and said a lot of the older pupils helped with the younger pupils. She said the teenager was one of the older pupils who assisted regularly.

However, she said he would come to her classroom without being invited and she often felt uncomfortable with him.

She also said the teenager's recollection of the detail of the sexual conduct was accurate, but said it had happened at a later date.

The teacher said the pair did not have each other's phone numbers but had messaged via direct messages on her Instagram account.

The woman was no longer in a relationship with the teenager when she had his baby in 2021.

She said the relationship happened six years earlier and she was a different person now.

The GTCS report pointed out that the boy had messaged the woman and vowed he would "finish her career as a teacher".

Due to him retracting allegations in a letter to the teacher's lawyer, and her being able to provide evidence proving that she had gone on holiday to Tenerife on dates he claimed they were together in 2018, some of his evidence was deemed "inconsistent" and was therefore not proven.

The teenager refused to take part in the proceedings.

The report said: "The teacher gave evidence that the sexual relationship had not commenced until after the pupil had left school, and that while he was a pupil, their relationship had been professional at all times, albeit relaxed.

"She now recognised that she should have maintained clearer boundaries."

Speaking about the woman's fitness to teach it said: "The panel found that the teacher failed to maintain appropriate boundaries and that her lack of developed insight presented a current risk to herself and others, the behaviour had not been remedied and there was a likelihood of reoccurrence.

"On this basis, the panel found her fitness to teach impaired at the current date."

The panel also determined that there was "a significant falling short given the seriousness of the circumstances, lack of insight and lack of evidence of remediation".

They also noted the lack of references and there being no evidence of training in relation to boundaries or resilience.

"The panel were of the view that the public interest was engaged," the report said.

"They noted the importance of maintaining confidence in the profession and the regulator.

"The panel were of the view that a reasonably informed member of the public would expect the regulator to consider the conduct displayed fell significantly short of what was expected by a teacher."

It added that the panel had a duty to declare the full standards and ensure a deterrent effect.

The woman has now been removed from the teaching register and is banned from making an application for re-registration for two years.