A RE teacher who married a former pupil is facing a probe by the education watchdog over claims he had an ‘inappropriate relationship’ while at school.
Gavin Dunsmuir is accused by The General Teaching Council for Scotland of becoming involved in a relationship with Megan Reid while working as a teacher at Largs Academy in Ayrshire.
Mr Dunsmuir, who is 49, was allegedly seen visiting a pub with the schoolgirl, who can now be named as Megan Reid, and other youngsters between March and August of 2015.
He is also accused of taking the former schoolgirl to a colleague’s home and also allowing her to spend time in the company of his daughter.
The GTCS charges brought against Mr Dunsmuir read: ‘Between March 2015 and August 2015, whilst employed as a teacher by North Ayrshire Council at School A, you did form an inappropriate relationship with a pupil, in that you did
‘Attend a public house with said pupil and former pupils of School A.
‘Take said pupil to the home of a colleague, and spend time with said pupil in the company of your daughter.’
Gavin Dunsmuir is accused by The General Teaching Council for Scotland of becoming involved in a relationship with Megan Reid while working as a teacher at Largs Academy in Ayrshire
Mr Dunsmuir, who is 49, was allegedly seen visiting a pub with the schoolgirl, who can now be named as Megan Reid (pictured), and other youngsters between March and August of 2015
It reads: ‘On two separate occasions between 1991 and 1993, in the knowledge that Child A was under the legal age limit to provide consent, you did have sexual intercourse with Child A without her consent.’
A GTCS hearing in 2018 also probed Mr Dunsmuir’s behaviour but was adjourned without a formal decision being made.
Speaking in 2018, the GTCS heard how his behaviour raised the alarm of an off-duty teacher who said his body language with the pupil made them ‘look like a couple’.
Lynsey Muir, a PE teacher at Largs Academy since 2001, told the panel that she ran into Mr Dunsmuir and a group of pupils at the Lounge public house in Largs.
She said: ‘Gavin came into the pub with pupil A and several other pupils. There were four or five in total.
‘I was with a group of probationary teachers and I told them I had to leave. I felt really uncomfortable. Their body language was close, turning to each other
‘My blood was boiling from the Lounge. It was in the summer of 2015, so she would’ve been at the end of sixth year.
Mr Dunsmuir and his former pupil Miss Reid formally married at the start of this year, with images of the two on their wedding day shared onto their social media accounts
Miss Muir added: ‘The way the school is it’s common for me to walk past R.E.. I recall quite often that pupil A would be in sitting with Gavin alone. On a daily basis.’
Also giving evidence at the hearing was Alan Leishman, a Chemistry teacher at Largs Academy from 2002.
Alan was best friends with Gavin during their time at the school together, and even attended his wedding.
He said: ‘I felt pupil A and Gavin developed a relationship. I saw them on exam day, she had been at his house but I didn’t ask why. I recall him saying the pupil went as a surprise for his daughter.
Lynsey Muir, a PE teacher at Largs Academy since 2001, told the panel that she ran into Mr Dunsmuir and a group of pupils at the Lounge public house in Largs (file photo)
‘Pupil A got on well with his daughter. He said he was going to use her as a babysitter. I recall saying to Gavin not to get too close.
‘I asked Gavin if anything was going on and he said ‘no’.’
Mr Leishman also told the panel that Mr Dunsmuir’s wife had told him the teacher and pupil were having a relationship.
He added that he was ‘speechless’ when Mr Dunsmuir arrived at his home with Pupil A in his car.
He said: ‘I never had a pupil come to my home. Gavin said he’d tell me later why she was in the car, and he said that she was at his house as a surprise. I know his daughter liked pupil A.’
Mr Dunsmuir and his former pupil Miss Reid formally married at the start of this year, with images of the two on their wedding day shared onto their social media accounts.
The hearing begins next week.