A science teacher will go before her professional watchdog amid claims she kissed and groped a pupil at a nightclub.
Ashley McConnell allegedly danced in a flirty way with a Thurso High School pupil at the town’s Skinandi nightclub.
The General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS) will also consider allegations she held his hand, touched his bottom and put her hands in, or around, his groin.
During the hearing, the panel will consider if physics teacher McConnell is fit to remain in the profession.
The allegations date back to March 2018.
The panel will consider if McConnell was also verbally abusive to two other pupils at the club, known as Pupil B and Pupil C, on the same occasion.
It is claimed she made a threatening gesture to Pupil B and said she would fight her.
‘Could you write a statement about me as a teacher?’
During the online hearing, the watchdog will also consider if McConnell put another young person at “emotional harm”.
They will consider reports that, while subject to a GTCS investigation, McConnell contacted Young Person A through social media to ask her her to write a review.
Young Person A was in residential care at the time, which McConnell is said to have known.
In a message, McConnell allegedly wrote: “Hi [Young Person A], how are you? I need to ask a big favour. If you have time could you write a statement about me as a teacher? How brilliant and helpful I was.
“No I’m kidding, but seriously if you could write a little statement it would really help my case with everything that’s going on just now. I understand if you don’t want to or don’t have time so don’t worry if you can’t.”
The fitness to teach hearing will held on June 7-8 and resume on June 20-24.
