ALISON SMITH, FORMER ABERDEEN TEACHER, STRUCK OFF THE REGISTER FOLLOWING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
In September 2009, a disciplinary hearing resulted in the removal of Alison Smith, a former teacher at Aberdeen's Bankhead Academy, from the teaching register after she engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.Smith admitted her conduct to church associates and her parents before reporting it to the police.
In January, she was placed on probation and sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
Despite these measures, she was officially struck off during the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) conviction hearing held on a Monday.
The allegations against Smith arose from an incident in June of the previous year, when the student visited her at her home.
During this visit, Smith described the encounter as a consensual sexual act.
A parent of the pupil submitted a written statement to Aberdeen Sheriff Court, asserting that the incident had not caused any lasting psychological harm to the boy.
Sheriff Kieran McLernan addressed Smith during the hearing, stating: "On the face of it, this offence is normally regarded with considerable seriousness because it’s one form of a significant abuse of trust.
It was an effect of your own conscience which brought this matter to light.
Human weakness is not often best dealt with by public punishment but it is a matter of public interest where there is a breach of trust." Additionally, Smith was placed on the sex offenders register.
The GTCS committee, which unanimously decided on her removal from the teaching register, was informed that Smith had written to the council stating: "I wish to be removed from the register effective immediately.
I accept my actions will see me removed from the register." James Thewliss, the committee’s convener, confirmed the decision, emphasizing the severity of the breach: "The offence was a grave breach of trust.
In the public interest, young people should be protected from this kind of behaviour.
Accordingly, there was no option but to remove her name from the register."
