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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Teacher death findings delivered | Teacher death findings delivered |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| A fatal accident inquiry into the death of a head teacher in the Scottish Borders has not recommended any changes to how school inspections are handled. | A fatal accident inquiry into the death of a head teacher in the Scottish Borders has not recommended any changes to how school inspections are handled. |
| Irene Hogg, 54, was found dead in the foothills of the Cheviots days after a critical visit by inspectors in 2008. | Irene Hogg, 54, was found dead in the foothills of the Cheviots days after a critical visit by inspectors in 2008. |
| Her family had called for more support prior to inspections and for a process to allow heads to request postponement. | Her family had called for more support prior to inspections and for a process to allow heads to request postponement. |
| A sheriff has found Scottish Borders Council had "appropriate" and "suitably flexible" procedures already in place. | A sheriff has found Scottish Borders Council had "appropriate" and "suitably flexible" procedures already in place. |
| The fatal accident inquiry took place over a fortnight last year at Jedburgh Sheriff Court. | The fatal accident inquiry took place over a fortnight last year at Jedburgh Sheriff Court. |
| It took evidence from Miss Hogg's family and colleagues as well as her line managers and schools inspectors. | It took evidence from Miss Hogg's family and colleagues as well as her line managers and schools inspectors. |
| Without exception none of her friends or colleagues had the slightest suspicion that she might self-harm following the outcome of the inspection Sheriff James Farrell | Without exception none of her friends or colleagues had the slightest suspicion that she might self-harm following the outcome of the inspection Sheriff James Farrell |
| The inquiry heard how the Glendinning Primary head teacher was found dead in a small burn near an outdoor centre in March 2008. | The inquiry heard how the Glendinning Primary head teacher was found dead in a small burn near an outdoor centre in March 2008. |
| Sheriff James Farrell concluded she had decided to take her own life by overdosing on paracetamol. | Sheriff James Farrell concluded she had decided to take her own life by overdosing on paracetamol. |
| However, he said that at the time of her death the fatal dose would not yet have taken effect other than causing "nausea and dizziness". | However, he said that at the time of her death the fatal dose would not yet have taken effect other than causing "nausea and dizziness". |
| He said this resulted in her immersion in the waters of the burn where she suffered a cardiac arrest and died as a result. | He said this resulted in her immersion in the waters of the burn where she suffered a cardiac arrest and died as a result. |
| 'Visibly disappointed' | |
| Lawyers for Miss Hogg's family had also asked the sheriff to look at the circumstances of her death, in particular the inspection process at her school. | Lawyers for Miss Hogg's family had also asked the sheriff to look at the circumstances of her death, in particular the inspection process at her school. |
| In his findings he noted that she had been "visibly disappointed and depressed by the outcome of the inspection". | |
| "Several of her friends and colleagues spoke to that fact, and also to offers to spend time with her," he said. | "Several of her friends and colleagues spoke to that fact, and also to offers to spend time with her," he said. |
| "Irene Hogg declined these offers and without exception none of her friends or colleagues had the slightest suspicion that she might self-harm following the outcome of the inspection." | "Irene Hogg declined these offers and without exception none of her friends or colleagues had the slightest suspicion that she might self-harm following the outcome of the inspection." |
| The inquiry took place over two weeks at Jedburgh Sheriff Court | |
| However, Sheriff Farrell declined to make findings that the council should speed up its counselling process or introduce procedures to request a delay in inspections. | However, Sheriff Farrell declined to make findings that the council should speed up its counselling process or introduce procedures to request a delay in inspections. |
| He added that while Miss Hogg's death had been "inextricably linked" to the outcome of the inspection he could not find it had been a "relevant" factor. | He added that while Miss Hogg's death had been "inextricably linked" to the outcome of the inspection he could not find it had been a "relevant" factor. |
| He concluded by stressing that the educational merits of schools inspections had not been part of the remit of the inquiry. | He concluded by stressing that the educational merits of schools inspections had not been part of the remit of the inquiry. |
| He said: "What did shine through the mass of evidence however, and was spoken to by witness after witness, was the fact that Glendinning Primary School was a school with a happy, family atmosphere. | He said: "What did shine through the mass of evidence however, and was spoken to by witness after witness, was the fact that Glendinning Primary School was a school with a happy, family atmosphere. |
| "The head teacher, Irene Hogg, was respected and held in high esteem by her staff and by parents and loved by the many children who over the years were fortunate to have been in her care. | "The head teacher, Irene Hogg, was respected and held in high esteem by her staff and by parents and loved by the many children who over the years were fortunate to have been in her care. |
| "By virtue of these achievements Irene Hogg proved herself to be an outstanding head teacher." | "By virtue of these achievements Irene Hogg proved herself to be an outstanding head teacher." |
| I am sure that everyone involved in this case will - and should - learn lessons from it Mike RussellEducation secretary | |
| Miss Hogg's brother, Roger, described the findings as "disappointing". | |
| He insisted the council could have asked for the inspection to be suspended since it knew his sister was having problems. | |
| He also called for the HMIe to be scrapped and said its inspections were "divisive, extraordinarily stressful and largely pointless". | |
| An HMIe spokesman said it welcomed the fact the sheriff had found no fault with its inspection or procedures. | |
| However, he added that it would continue to review its processes as part of its "drive to improve". | |
| The findings were also welcomed by Scottish Borders Council's director of education Glenn Rodger who paid tribute to a "highly valued head teacher" who was still "very much missed". | |
| Education Secretary Mike Russell expressed the Scottish government's sympathies to the head teacher's family and the community she served. | Education Secretary Mike Russell expressed the Scottish government's sympathies to the head teacher's family and the community she served. |
| "The FAI concludes that no single circumstance could be blamed for what took place nor any actions by the inspectorate or the council," he said. | "The FAI concludes that no single circumstance could be blamed for what took place nor any actions by the inspectorate or the council," he said. |
| "Nonetheless I am sure that everyone involved in this case will - and should - learn lessons from it." | "Nonetheless I am sure that everyone involved in this case will - and should - learn lessons from it." |