Mother of student DEFENDS math teacher slept with her daughter behind his girlfriend’s back

A MUM has defended a math teacher who had sex with her daughter behind his girlfriend’s back.

Ross Spittal, 32, slept with the 18-year-old pupil at least twice at the house he shared with partner Kim Smyth.

4

He was suspended from his job and removed from the teaching register after the 33-year-old discovered more than 800 emails between the two.

Spittal, who works at Inveralmond High School in West Lothian, Scotland, has since fought to maintain the teaching roster.

The girl’s mother defended him in a testimony before the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

“He has demonstrated reliability in his role and professionalism at all times,” she wrote.

“His encouragement allows the students to believe in themselves.”

The mother continued: “She is not worried about Mr Spittal’s student-teacher relationship with Person A and finds them to have a stable relationship and have integrated into their home lives.”

Despite her intervention, the panel ruled Spittal would be removed from the register.

They found that he was “significantly short of the standards expected of a registered teacher and therefore unfit to teach”.

The jury said Spittal kissed the teenager first when she stayed to help him clean up the classroom in April 2019.

In an email, Spittal asked the girl if she was having a “cool, fun time”, and added: “Talk to me if you’re having one.”

His then-girlfriend discovered hundreds of emails – including nude pictures – on their shared computer.

Spittal told the council he was still in a relationship with the teenager but admitted his behavior was “completely unacceptable”.

‘ASHAMED’

The teacher also said he was “embarrassed” about his actions and revealed he now works as a courier.

He said: “I think about it every day sitting in the truck about to where I am if I don’t make silly mistakes.

“I made the decisions and choices I made over a period of five to six weeks. I was embarrassed and embarrassed.

“I use traffic lights. Stop, think and act.

“I stop and process what’s going on around me, then I think and evaluate my options before continuing with my choices.

“My professionalism has been done, it won’t happen again, I admit all the allegations.”

Presentation staffer Sarah Donnachie argued Spittal “knew what he was doing was wrong” and only revealed the relationship when he had been caught.

GTCS ended their investigation by issuing an order to remove Spittal.

4

4

4