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| English teacher whose 'whole class was bored' judged unfit to teach | |
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| A teacher who read novels to 11-year-olds for several lessons in a row, showed clips from Jurassic Park and then rebuked pupils for asking questions – provoking them to complain of boredom – has been judged unfit to teach by a disciplinary hearing in Scotland. | A teacher who read novels to 11-year-olds for several lessons in a row, showed clips from Jurassic Park and then rebuked pupils for asking questions – provoking them to complain of boredom – has been judged unfit to teach by a disciplinary hearing in Scotland. |
| Gillian Scott, a secondary school English teacher at Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, was accused of failing to teach her pupils during lessons that involved them copying out the school rules or listening in silence, between 2010 and 2013. | Gillian Scott, a secondary school English teacher at Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, was accused of failing to teach her pupils during lessons that involved them copying out the school rules or listening in silence, between 2010 and 2013. |
| Scotland’s General Teaching Council heard that, in June 2011, Scott set the same task for pupils in classes across three different year groups, an essay entitled “What I did in activities week” and did the same again in September when she told them to write “What I did in my summer holidays”. | Scotland’s General Teaching Council heard that, in June 2011, Scott set the same task for pupils in classes across three different year groups, an essay entitled “What I did in activities week” and did the same again in September when she told them to write “What I did in my summer holidays”. |
| Even when Scott’s lessons were observed by her colleagues, little seems to have changed, such as the 2011 lesson in which one said: “There was no active learning by the pupils as you told the pupils about the characterisation during a clip of Jurassic Park and instructed them to write down the points you made.” | Even when Scott’s lessons were observed by her colleagues, little seems to have changed, such as the 2011 lesson in which one said: “There was no active learning by the pupils as you told the pupils about the characterisation during a clip of Jurassic Park and instructed them to write down the points you made.” |
| The council heard comments on Scott’s lessons that included: “Your lack of enthusiasm for teaching and the subject resulted in pupils becoming disinterested in participating in the lesson.” | The council heard comments on Scott’s lessons that included: “Your lack of enthusiasm for teaching and the subject resulted in pupils becoming disinterested in participating in the lesson.” |
| In March 2013, a teacher reported that Scott told a pupil asking for assistance: “Put your hand down. If you ask again you’ll get a warning.” | In March 2013, a teacher reported that Scott told a pupil asking for assistance: “Put your hand down. If you ask again you’ll get a warning.” |
| Other teachers said Scott’s classes appeared to compensate for the lack of stimulation with rowdy behaviour, with one class of 13- and 14-year-olds “out of control on various occasions and pupils were shouting out, throwing objects and throwing chairs”. | Other teachers said Scott’s classes appeared to compensate for the lack of stimulation with rowdy behaviour, with one class of 13- and 14-year-olds “out of control on various occasions and pupils were shouting out, throwing objects and throwing chairs”. |
| At other times, the classes would amuse themselves with “inappropriate sexual graffiti” according to staff. | At other times, the classes would amuse themselves with “inappropriate sexual graffiti” according to staff. |
| When confronted by colleagues over her lack of interest in her pupils, Scott is said to have replied: “Why would I want to get to know them? I am there to teach them English.” | When confronted by colleagues over her lack of interest in her pupils, Scott is said to have replied: “Why would I want to get to know them? I am there to teach them English.” |
| David Macluskey, the school’s principal teacher of English, told the panel he was horrified by Scott’s teaching, saying that “the teaching was so low level that the whole class was bored”. | David Macluskey, the school’s principal teacher of English, told the panel he was horrified by Scott’s teaching, saying that “the teaching was so low level that the whole class was bored”. |
| “Mr Macluskey said that his main impression of the respondent throughout the competence process was that she was unwilling to accept criticism; during some meetings, she had to be asked to stop shouting,” the panel was told. | “Mr Macluskey said that his main impression of the respondent throughout the competence process was that she was unwilling to accept criticism; during some meetings, she had to be asked to stop shouting,” the panel was told. |
| When another teacher was brought in an attempt to offer coaching and advice, Scott “did not reply and gazed at her for quite lengthy periods without comment”. | When another teacher was brought in an attempt to offer coaching and advice, Scott “did not reply and gazed at her for quite lengthy periods without comment”. |
| Scott did not appear before the panel but was represented by her father and denied that she was unfit to teach. After considering her statements to the council, the panel concluded: “The respondent’s position appeared to be that there was nothing wrong with her teaching.” | Scott did not appear before the panel but was represented by her father and denied that she was unfit to teach. After considering her statements to the council, the panel concluded: “The respondent’s position appeared to be that there was nothing wrong with her teaching.” |
| But in an email to the council, Scott wrote: “With hindsight, I can identify situations that I could have handled differently, either in the classroom or with colleagues.” | But in an email to the council, Scott wrote: “With hindsight, I can identify situations that I could have handled differently, either in the classroom or with colleagues.” |
| The council concluded that Scott’s “professional competence is currently falling significantly below the standard expected of a registered teacher” and she was unfit to teach. | The council concluded that Scott’s “professional competence is currently falling significantly below the standard expected of a registered teacher” and she was unfit to teach. |
| • The subheading on this article was amended on 3 June 2016. An earlier version used the word “disinterested” where “uninterested” was meant. | • The subheading on this article was amended on 3 June 2016. An earlier version used the word “disinterested” where “uninterested” was meant. |