Teaching assistant sacked by primary school after parents discover past career as underwear model
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Version 0 of 1. A teaching assistant has been sacked after parents complained about her previous career as an underwear model. Gemma Laird was sacked from Bloemfontein Primary School in Craghead, County Durham, less than a week into her job after the pictures came to light. She said the school had told her they did not want the six-year-old pupils she worked with “thinking it is acceptable to be a model”. The 21-year-old, who has now returned to modelling after leaving the apprentice teaching assistant job, said she was made to feel “dirty” and “like she was a prostitute” following the school’s decision. The school said the images “did not comply with our expected standards”. Ms Laird told the Mail Online she was called into the head teacher’s office a week after starting her job. “She sat me down and said somebody had been on my Facebook page and discovered that I was doing modelling work,” she told the newspaper. “She said she doesn’t want her year-six pupils thinking it is acceptable to be a model. She made me feel dirty and like I was a prostitute. It’s ridiculous.” Ms Laird, who has a four-year-old daughter of her own, added: "I wanted to make something of myself and go into a stable career so I can support my daughter, but it just feels as though I’ve been completely shot down. I’m gutted, to be honest. I would love to try for another job in teaching but what if this happens again?” She said her social media accounts were set to private. Laura Liddell, head teacher at the school, said: “Members of staff and those on apprenticeship placement in school are expected to adhere to certain standards of behaviour, including in relation to their use of social media, and to set a good example to pupils. “It was brought to our attention that images which were not appropriate and which did not comply with our expected standards had been posted on social media by a newly appointed apprentice. “Unfortunately, we felt that we had no choice but to bring the placement to an end.” |