Peterhead teacher kicked pupil and shouted in his face after he attacked her

A teacher who kicked a pupil and shouted at him after he attacked her has been found unfit.

Nicola Sangster grabbed the waistband and backpack of the boy while he was lying on the floor, before kicking him on the bottom.

She shouted near the pupil’s face, “You are not the boss of here, you’re not the boss of the school, and you’re not the boss of my class,” or similar words.

She also shouted, “Do not hit your mum, do not hit your mother” or words to that effect.

The incident took place in December 2023 while she was employed by Aberdeenshire Council as a primary teacher at Anna Ritchie School, a school for those with complex needs.

She accepted the allegations against her, but argued that her fitness to teach was not impaired.

She said that she deeply regretted her actions, but she had suffered a “sustained attack” by the boy prior to the incident, which was confirmed by Police Scotland.

Following an investigation by Aberdeenshire Council, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) decided to reprimand her for a year.

The Panel concluded that her fitness to teach is currently impaired, but that she is unlikely to return to teaching at present.

In a written ruling, the GTCS said: “The panel found that the incident was an isolated one and that the teacher has made efforts to remediate her conduct.

“The panel found that the teacher’s actions were not deliberate and arose out of a chaotic situation.

“The teacher had a previous unblemished record and was highly regarded

“The panel decided that a reprimand would address appropriately and sufficiently any public protection concern which in the panel’s view are very low risk given the remorse shown by the teacher.

“Further, a reprimand considers the public interest by indicating to the public and the profession the seriousness of the matter in issue, therefore maintaining public confidence in teachers and the teaching profession.”