An Aberdeen teacher has been deemed as unfit to teach after assaulting a pupil.
Alan McCartney, a teacher at Orchard Brae School, was convicted of assault last September and fined £500 by Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Now the General Teaching Council for Scotland has held a hearing into the incident and struck him off.
The watchdog heard that McCartney struck a pupil on the head on a farm track near the school on Howes Road.
The teacher had been holding a six-year-old pupil’s hand during a nature walk when the boy pinched him.
He then whipped his hand away and slapped the back of the child’s head.
Two pupil support assistants who witnessed the assault told Aberdeen Sheriff Court last year the child had additional support needs and was non-verbal.
As a result, he often used small nips and pinches to communicate. After the incident the child “squealed” and looked “pretty white-faced”.
Behaviour ‘totally unacceptable’
Mr McCartney immediately apologised at the time but denied the charges made against him when he appeared in court.
However, he was later convicted and fined £500 and ordered to pay the victim £20 compensation.
Mr McCartney was also referred to Disclosure Scotland under the PVG Scheme.
Since his conviction, GTCS carried out an investigation looking into the incident.
Mr McCartney admitted to the allegation in full but denied he is unfit to teach.
While positive testimonials were provided on his behalf, the panel remained concerned Mc McCartney continued to say the assault was “an accident”.
Due to minimising his responsibility, it was determined there is a risk that similar behaviour could reoccur.
It was said his conduct had “breached the fundamental tenets of trust and integrity” and was “totally unacceptable”.
The panel also said the wider public would be “concerned” if Mr McCartney continued to teach.
His name has been removed from the register and has been prohibited from re-applying for two years.
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