Teacher fighting for career after messaging pupils

Nicholas Torsney is completely devastated by mistake

Nicholas Torsney is now fighting for his career in front of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) as a result of breaching the profession’s ultra-strict social media policy.

The treatment of the 27-year-old by West Lothian Council sparked unrest at his old school, where almost 50 teachers put their names to a document protesting at his sacking.

A colleague at St Margaret’s Academy, Livingston, told a hearing of the GTCS in Edinburgh this week the case was “blown out of proportion”. The messages were sent to sixth-year pupils, believed to be over 18, and two of them were sent after the students had completed their exams and effectively left school.

The hearing was told the messages, sent to male and female students, related to a prom night and a golfing trip. Two of them were signed off “Xx”.

Mr Torsney, from Livingston, is accused of being unfit to teach after sending Facebook messages to students in September 2012 and June 2013.

The first message read: ”Hey man, u looking forward to this ski trip? I’m not … sorry I’ve messaged u xx”.

The same day he texted the same student: “I should not have sent u a message. Sorry xx”.

FOLLOW US

Twitter | Facebook | Google+

Subscribe to our DAILY NEWSLETTER (requires registration)

SCOTSMAN TABLET AND MOBILE APPS

iPhone | iPad | Android | Kindle

As a result of these texts, Mr Torsney was given a final written warning by education chiefs at West Lothian Council.

In June the following year, after the sixth years had completed their exams and were no longer in school, he texted two female students: “So how was prom then? Xx.” A second message, to a male student, read: “Hope you enjoyed Prom mate. Me U and Downham need to go and play golf soon.”

The teacher was sacked from St Margaret’s as a result of the texts. After appealing, he was reinstated and given a job at another West Lothian school.

Despite that, the case is now being prosecuted by the GTCS, which could strike Mr Torsney off if the case against him is proved.

Mr Torsney told the GTCS he believed the students had left school and, therefore, the ban on social media contact did not apply. He said he did not realise that the GTCS rules go up to the final day of term. He said: “I thought they had left school the previous month after their final exam. I am massively remorseful and completely devastated at my mistake.”

Karen Rafferty, 46, who worked with Mr Torsney at St Margaret’s Academy, told the hearing: “It was blown out of proportion. It dented his confidence and he was not the same when he returned. He was a great teacher and always maintained professional boundaries with the pupils.”

Mrs Rafferty revealed she and 47 other teachers at St Margaret’s put forward their signatures in support of his position.

Lawyer Alastair Milne, defending the teacher, said: “In terms of the evidence provided by experienced staff, Mr Torsney is an excellent teacher who has gone beyond what is expected of him in helping his students.

“We are not dealing with someone who is unfit to teach, the evidence shows that his daily contact shows no sign of inappropriate behaviour.”

Gillian Sim, of GTCS, said: “Fitness to teach isn’t simply about being able to teach well. It’s about maintaining professional standards and fulfilling your duty as a role model.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association said: “More needs to be done to set out guidance for what teachers can and cannot do on social media.”

Mr Torsney, who graduated from Edinburgh University in 2009, and his girlfriend of eight years are expecting their first baby.

The case continues.