‘Beasts’ slur teacher can keep her job

Published on 01/02/2013 01:26

A TEACHER who referred to pupils in her class as “beasts” has been allowed to keep her job.

Lorraine Bloice, a music teacher working in a special needs school in Aberdeen, was found to have acted in “an offensive and inappropriate fashion” after an investigation by regulator the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).

She was given a reprimand and told her registration as a teacher would be subject to a number of conditions for the next two years.

A disciplinary hearing heard that in September 2011, Ms Bloice had remarked “don’t wake the beast” after a child in her class fell asleep. She also told a support assistant at the school to “let the beasts free” when asked if the pupils had finished their morning snack, referred to one pupil as a “boot” and swore about another when in discussion with a volunteer at the school.

Another charge that she had “manhandled” a child in a way that was “inappropriate” was found “not proved”.

A GTCS panel found the teacher’s conduct had “fallen short of the standards expected”. However, it accepted she had shown remorse and was a “well-regarded” teacher with no such behaviour before of after the events detailed.