Parents oppose appointment of head teacher with drink-driving convictions

Parents at a primary school have called for the appointment of a head teacher with two drink-driving convictions to be reconsidered.

Families at Tarland School, in Aberdeenshire, were informed the preferred candidate for the position was Anna Royle.

However, they then learned she had drink-driving convictions from 2019 and 2024, and have now issued an open letter expressing their concerns about her suitability for the role.

Aberdeenshire Council said it was unable to comment.

Tarland School has a roll of about 80 pupils.

The new vacancy arose after the previous head teacher announced her retirement.

Parents said that they were told on 15 September that Royle - formerly a head teacher in Aberdeen - was the preferred candidate for the position.

Since then, they said they had become aware of a Press and Journal newspaper article from February 2024 reporting a second drink-driving offence, and one of leaving the scene of an accident.

Their open letter was sent to senior council figures.

"These convictions are a matter of public record and are readily discoverable by parents and members of the wider community," the letter states.

"We recognise that all appropriate pre-employment checks will be carried out, but we are also aware that these criminal convictions may not legally prevent appointment.

"As parents and carers of the children of Tarland School we argue that in this instance legality and suitability are not necessarily the same thing."

The letter described head teachers as being "entrusted with the care, welfare and development of children".

They were expected to demonstrate the "highest standards of judgement, responsibility, integrity and personal conduct".

It states: "In our opinion, and based on the publicly reported convictions, we find it difficult to reconcile those expectations with a record that includes two drink-driving convictions and the failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

"Our concern is not based on personal animosity towards the candidate, nor are we making any judgement regarding her ability as a classroom teacher.

"Rather, we question whether an individual with this history can command the confidence, trust and respect that are essential for effective leadership of a school."

The letter said confidence in the ability of the preferred candidate to lead Tarland School had already been "severely undermined".

It ended: "We therefore urge Aberdeenshire Council to reconsider this appointment and address the erosion of parent confidence which has already occurred.

"We believe that the head teacher of Tarland School should be a person whose judgement, conduct and personal example are beyond reproach, and who can command the full confidence of pupils, parents, staff and the wider community."

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said the authority was "unable to provide a comment at this stage".