LOTHIAN education chiefs have launched a full investigation and four
teachers have been suspended after complaints about a school trip to
France.
The eight-day holiday to a watersports camp involved senior pupils
accompanied by staff from Bathgate Academy.
Councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, who chairs the region's education
committee, confirmed yesterday that an initial inquiry had concluded
there was enough substance in complaints to conduct a wide ranging
investigation.
A complaint had been sent to education officials by organisers of the
centre. It was received last week and, after initial inquiries, four
teachers were suspended.
The allegations include complaints about heavy drinking by two staff,
a boy caught smoking cannabis, topless photographs being taken of a
teacher, unsupervised pupils wandering into the camp in the early hours
of the morning, a teacher removing her blouse before dancing at a disco,
and a pupil disappearing for the night with a French companion.
Councillor Maginnis confirmed that senior officials were now
investigating.
She added: ''We are obviously very concerned to get to the bottom of
this matter. But there are well-established disciplinary procedures
which means we cannot discuss the matter without prejudicing the
position of those who have been suspended.''
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