A HEADTEACHER and a deputy head have been struck off after they were caught together in possession of cocaine.
Mark Turner, former head of Dumfries High School and Lesley Wilson, former deputy of Wallace Hall Academy in the same town, were caught in a Carlisle pub.
Mr Turner and Miss Wilson were both cautioned by police following the incident in June last year.
The pair agreed this week to be banned from the teaching profession by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
Mr Turner and Miss Wilson, who were 47 and 33 at the time of the offences, admitted the allegations and consented to their removal.
Their identical declarations stated: “I waive my right to a full hearing and admit in full the allegation made against me relating to my fitness to teach that is set out below:
“On 28 June 2014 at an unspecified place in Carlisle, United Kingdom, you were found to be in possession of a quantity of a class A drug, Cocaine, for which you received a police caution by Cumbria Constabulary on 29 June 2014.”
The Panel chose not to make a referral under section 8 of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act in order that Scottish Ministers may consider whether the pair should be barred from working with children or protected adults.
The Panel decided to do so because it considered that none of the referral grounds were met.
Mr Turner had previously worked as deputy Wallace Hall and left to take up the head’s role at Dumfries High. Miss Wilson then replaced Mr Turner as depute at Wallace Hall.
Neither teacher returned to their post following the offences, and have now started a chauffeur-driven tourist business in the Carlisle area called Solway Tours.
Their site’s description reads: “Mark Turner and Lesley Wilson are both former teachers in Dumfries and Galloway.
“Both have strong links with the local area and through their time in education were at the forefront of promoting and leading the outdoor classroom.”
Miss Wilson declined to comment. Mr Turner could not be reached.
