A north mother has said she is “absolutely appalled” by a decision to clear a teacher of mistreating her son.
Teacher Lesley Cooper was referred to the General Teaching Council for Scotland after a group of pupil support assistants complained she had treated a pupil at St Duthus School in Tain like a dog.
But the watchdog cleared the teacher of any wrongdoing, and ruled the assistants had “fabricated” the accusations.
Last night, the mother of the child at the centre of the inquiry said she disappointed at the decision, and gave her backing to the teaching assistants, Vivienne Fraser, Fiona Smith and Kirsty Bonthrone.
Caroline Grant said she was “absolutely appalled by the outcome and the comments made by the panel”, adding: “I cannot understand how they have come to this conclusion after hearing all the evidence and cannot fathom how Lesley Cooper has been cleared of any blame in relation to her behaviour towards my son”.
Ms Cooper faced a disciplinary hearing after allegations that she repeatedly used excessive force and acted in an inappropriate manner with a pupil by pulling him by the hand, grabbing him by the clothes and shaking him.
She was further accused of referring to the pupil as “puppy”, leading him by the hand, whistling at him and telling him to “sit”.
The allegations sparked a police investigation and Ms Cooper, who had worked at the school for 13 years, and the school’s former head teacher Joseph Eggermont, were both suspended.
At a subsequent disciplinary hearing evidence was given by the PSAs but the panel ruled last week that they had “mounted a sustained campaign of harassment and vilification against the teaching staff”.
But Ms Grant added: “There is absolutely no reason why the three pupil support assistants concerned would fabricate such an awful story. I have total belief in them all and am extremely grateful to them all for standing up for the truth and having the courage to come forward on behalf of the children and especially my son.
“I am seeking advice on how to take this matter forward.”
