A former north-east head teacher, who was struck off the GTCS register this month after admitting threatening and intimidating behaviour to parents and teachers at an Aberdeenshire school, was the subject of complaints from parents at her previous job in Moray.
But although concerns were raised about Liz Manley to Moray Council by parents – in correspondence seen by the Press and Journal – she went from being a supply teacher at Portessie Primary in Buckie to the head teaching role at Lumsden Primary just a few months later in 2013.
Moray mother, Becky Chisholm, contacted the P&J to highlight her anger at how Ms Manley was allowed to continue teaching despite parents voicing concerns.
Former head teacher accused of being “threatening” and “intimidating” struck off
Mrs Chisholm said: “My daughter, Murrun, went to Portessie Primary School in Buckie.
“In May 2013, we removed her from the school and moved her to another [Milne’s Primary] for the last few weeks of her primary seven year because of the bullying which she suffered at the hands of her teacher, Mrs Elizabeth Manley.
“We sent a letter to the council at the time listing a series of complaints against Mrs Manley. We were relieved when we heard she had left Portessie Primary.
“But we were astonished when we found she had become head of Lumsden Primary.”
Mrs Manley took up her new post in August, 2013, but provoked anger among some parents by humiliating one pupil by asking his classmates how he should be punished and phoning a parent at home and using threatening language.
That were just the start of a catalogue of incidents which eventually led to Mrs Manley being struck off the GTCS register on May 4.
A Moray Council spokesman responded yesterday: “Mrs Manley was employed for a term at Portessie to cover maternity leave.
“During this short period, there was a single formal complaint from a parent [not the Chisholm family] which was investigated at school level.
“Fault was found with both parties and no action was taken. Mrs Manley left the school shortly afterwards.”
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council added: “When allegations were made about Mrs Manley while she was in our employment, we thoroughly investigated the circumstances and took action in line with our own policies.
“The safety and welfare of children in Aberdeenshire is always our priority and we can confirm Mrs Manley is no longer in our employment.”
