5 months ago
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Image source, Getty Images
By Andrew Picken
BBC Scotland News
Teachers used swearing and poo emojis to criticise vulnerable primary school pupils in a WhatsApp group chat, BBC Scotland News can reveal.
The existence of the chat between staff at Aberdeenshire schools was first revealed last year but the affected pupils' parents were not informed.
The messages have now been obtained by the BBC and show derogatory exchanges about pupils and parents.
Aberdeenshire Council said nobody was put at risk from the messages.
The local authority has apologised for the situation and said the incident was dealt with through the council's disciplinary procedure.
An independent review last year ruled some of the messages were "disparaging" but did not put the children at harm and the council was right not to tell parents about them.
But Nick Hobbs, head of advice and investigations at the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, said the council got it wrong.
He said: "We repeatedly made clear to the council that the children's rights issues engaged went beyond simply child protection.
"Of particular concern was the failure to tell the children and their families about the WhatsApp messages, either at the time or subsequently.
"This decision denied their right to complain, to seek redress, and to receive an apology from the council."
Four-letter swear word
It is understood the independent reviewer into Aberdeenshire Council's handling of the situation did not speak to the commissioner's office during her investigation.
The WhatsApp messages, some of which date back to 2018, include comments about individual children and their behaviour in the classroom.
In one exchange about a pupil with additional support needs, a teacher refers to them as a "complete little" and then uses a four-letter swear word.
The teachers then go on to share their concerns about teaching the pupil again.
Elsewhere the pupils' parents also come in for criticism from the teachers.
There is a discussion about individuals' parenting decisions and then exchanges about pupil behaviour and the role of parents in this.
In a letter to Aberdeenshire Council in 2021, Scotland's children commissioner said the WhatsApp messages contained "unprofessional, abusive and degrading" references to children with additional support needs who attended schools in the area.
At the time of the first complaint about the messages, Aberdeenshire Council decided, after an internal investigation, not to tell the parents as they ruled the exchanges did not give any child protection concerns.
The council commissioned Mhairi Grant, chairwoman of a child protection committee in a different local authority area, to review its actions last year.
She concluded: "The messages at the centre of this review were indiscreet and at some parts disparaging and certainly not what is expected from a professional working with children.
"However, I do not find that the messages themselves or any commentary therein gave cause for concern that a particular child or children in general had been harmed or were at risk of harm."
'Appropriately and proportionately'
Laurence Findlay, director of education and children's services at Aberdeenshire Council, said he was sorry the incident happened and that it was both "unprofessional and unfortunate".
He said: "As soon as the incident came to light, it was dealt with through the council's disciplinary procedure.
"To parents of pupils at Aberdeenshire schools, it is important you know that the safety of your young people is our top priority.
"No young people were at placed at risk as a result of these messages being sent. This matter was dealt with appropriately and proportionately."
