This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7741247.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Teacher faces incompetence charge Teacher 'guilty of incompetency'
(about 1 hour later)
A primary teacher is due to appear before the General Teaching Council accused of incompetence, in the first case of its kind in Scotland. A primary school teacher has pled guilty to charges of serious professional incompetence.
The teacher may be struck off if the governing body finds her guilty. Sarah Barnard could become the first teacher in Scotland to be struck off the register of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
Until now teachers have only been struck off for serious misconduct, but a law change two years ago enabled the GTC to take action for incompetence. Ms Barnard, who worked at Coupar Angus primary school, Comrie and Arngask primaries, has already been dismissed by Perth and Kinross Council.
Removal from the register prevents teachers from taking jobs elsewhere.
A hearing into her case held on Friday morning has been adjourned until December.
Until now teachers have only been struck off for serious misconduct, but a law change two years ago enabled the regulatory body, the GTCS, to take action for incompetence.
Gordon Smith, from the Association of Headteachers and Deputies, called for more cases to be brought forward.Gordon Smith, from the Association of Headteachers and Deputies, called for more cases to be brought forward.
He said that until now, if a teacher was deemed incompetent, they were merely moved to another school because of the "complex and sometimes Byzantine" process of bringing a case against them.He said that until now, if a teacher was deemed incompetent, they were merely moved to another school because of the "complex and sometimes Byzantine" process of bringing a case against them.
'Competency difficulties''Competency difficulties'
He said: "I wouldn't wish this on anyone but we have to realise this is an issue in Scottish education that perhaps we've ignored.He said: "I wouldn't wish this on anyone but we have to realise this is an issue in Scottish education that perhaps we've ignored.
"If you were an employer with nearly 50,000 staff, you would probably assume that 1-1.5% had competency difficulties, so for this to be the first case to come forward is surprising for everyone."If you were an employer with nearly 50,000 staff, you would probably assume that 1-1.5% had competency difficulties, so for this to be the first case to come forward is surprising for everyone.
"Imagine it was your child that was in that class and a teacher with 10 years experience will have perhaps ruined the education of 300 children.""Imagine it was your child that was in that class and a teacher with 10 years experience will have perhaps ruined the education of 300 children."
Teachers have only been struck off the register in Scotland after being found guilty of serious misconduct, for behaviour such as siphoning off school funds or forming an inappropriate relationship with a pupil.Teachers have only been struck off the register in Scotland after being found guilty of serious misconduct, for behaviour such as siphoning off school funds or forming an inappropriate relationship with a pupil.
But a change in legislation in 2006 allowed the profession's regulator to hold disciplinary hearings on incompetence.But a change in legislation in 2006 allowed the profession's regulator to hold disciplinary hearings on incompetence.
In England, about 10 teachers a year are charged with alleged incompetence by the GTC.In England, about 10 teachers a year are charged with alleged incompetence by the GTC.