Former Berwickshire High School teacher removed from teaching register for a year
Last updated 20th Oct 2026
A former Berwickshire High School teacher has been found unfit to teach after a professional conduct panel upheld allegations involving inappropriate comments and behaviour towards pupils.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland heard that when John Kerr was asked by a 16-year-old girl in December 2018 whether he would be attending the secondary's production of Grease, he replied that he would if she was "going to be wearing the low-cut crop top and tight trousers", but that he might not have a job the next day - or words to that effect.
Mr Kerr, who taught history and modern studies, denied that the conversation had taken place, describing the allegation as false and malicious.
However, the panel accepted the evidence of the pupil and another pupil who was present in the classroom, finding their accounts credible and reliable.
Mr Kerr was also found to have wiped his saliva on another pupil’s arm and shouted threats and insults at a third pupil during incidents on February 26th, 2019.
Mr Kerr denied spitting on his hand and wiping it on the pupil. He said he had intervened to separate pupils during an incident involving glue being put on another pupil’s school jumper.
But the panel accepted the account of a pupil who witnessed the incident, which was supported by evidence from a guidance teacher who spoke to pupils shortly afterwards.
On the same day, the panel found that Mr Kerr shouted at another pupil, including threats to kick their teeth in and to be “the last thing you see”.
Other comments found proved included telling the pupil they were “thick and stupid” and how "You’ll never be as smart as me…I have written over 50 books".
Mr Kerr accepted that he had reacted after the pupil used the word “Mongo” towards him while he was working at the computer. He told the hearing that his response was intended to demonstrate how people outside school might react to such language, rather than to threaten the pupil himself.
However, the panel accepted witness evidence that he had shouted at the pupil and made the other comments alleged.
In assessing Mr Kerr’s fitness to teach, the General Teaching Council for Scotland concluded that his conduct had fallen significantly short of the standards expected, and ordered his removal from the teaching register for one year.
The panel noted that the incidents had occurred around seven years before the hearing and that Mr Kerr had not been teaching since shortly after the 2019 events. His representative said he was 75 and had no plans to return to teaching.
Mr Kerr has the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Session within 28 days of service of the decision notice.
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