Thurso teacher fights for her job after panel finds she kissed pupil at Skinandi's nightclub
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By Darren McConachie, Deadline News
A teaching watchdog has found a Thurso teacher guilty of kissing and dancing flirtatiously with a pupil at a local nightclub.
Ashley McConnell broke down in tears on Thursday as she fought for her job during a hearing in front of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
The physics teacher, who taught at Thurso High School, was found to have kissed the 17-year-old pupil at Skinandi's nightclub in March 2018.
The teaching panel also believed there was enough evidence to prove that the married mum danced in a "flirtatious" manner with him.
McConnell, who was 30 at the time, told the GTCS that she had drunk an excessive amount of alcohol on the night in question and could not remember everything.
Miss McConnell admitted holding hands with the Thurso High School boy and also telling other pupils on that evening to "f*** off" after they questioned her behaviour.
She also admitted drinking an excessive amount of alcohol and giving one female pupil the middle finger.
The GTCS found there was not enough evidence to prove allegations that Miss McConnell touched the pupil on the bottom or groin area.
The panel will now have to determine whether McConnell's fitness to teach is impaired and if she will be allowed to remain on the teaching register.
On Thursday, Miss McConnell claimed she had not touched alcohol since the night in question.
Fighting to remain on the teaching register, she said: “I realised that my conduct had fallen short. I don’t drink alcohol any more. Perhaps if I hadn’t been drinking alcohol that night I wouldn’t be in the situation we are in.
“I feel a great deal of remorse and shame.
“Behaviour of this nature will never be repeated. I hope you will see that my conduct at the time was in stark contrast to my typical character. The risk of repetition is non-existent.
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“My conduct in work was never questioned. I’ve taken all the steps that I can. I have made lots and lots of changes."
Miss McConnell refused to accept that she may have left the pupil with long-lasting emotional damage after their kiss at the nightclub.
Miss McConnell spoke of how the night in question had taken its toll on her.
She said: “It has already affected me, I have not been able to teach for the last four years.
“I could get another job but that doesn’t fill me with joy, I don’t feel excited or passionate about that.
“I’ve been doing private tutoring but it’s not the same.”
The GTCS also heard from teacher and friend of Miss McConnell, Leslie-Anne Wooles, at the hearing on Thursday.
She said: “The last time I saw her in person was at a wedding, it was a free bar with lots of alcohol and Ashley didn’t touch a single drop.”
Earlier this week the panel heard from another colleague, Angela Sutherland, who was out with McConnell on the evening in March and couldn't believe she was still standing.
She said: “Ashley had a lot to drink at my house, that was before we had even gone out. When I left her she was really drunk, she was hardly stringing two words together.
“She’d been drinking beers but I think Jack Daniels as well and when I left she gave me a big hug and was slurring her words saying ‘I love you’. I don’t know how she was still standing.”
Miss McConnell faces being struck off the teaching register by the GTCS following an investigation over her alleged behaviour.
She was suspended from her job after concerned pupils approached school bosses with a video of the alleged incident.
The hearing continues.
