Google MapsA music teacher has been struck off after he bombarded three pupils at an Aberdeen private school with messages and adoration.
Peter Parfitt was under investigation by the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) for inappropriate behaviour between 2012 and 2022.
Parfitt was employed by St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen, where he used his position to target three pupils.
A newly released report laid out the extent of Parfitt’s behaviour, which included inappropriate touching, hugs, and even crying in one pupil’s arms.
Parfitt also sent hundreds of messages that included inappropriate comments.
Between August 2019 and May 2022, an investigation found Parfitt showed favouritism to one pupil, named as Pupil A, and asked her how her boyfriend was, whether they were still together and commented that she had two guys going at the same time.
In Pupil A’s testimony, she said that she became Parfitt’s pupil in S2 and was soon invited to join the Chamber Choir, which she found unusual, as you had to be part of the music department for a few years.
Pupil A realised she was being given unique opportunities, and other pupils warned her that this was not normal and that she should be careful.
The GTCS report stated: “As Pupil A got older, the teacher would touch her more frequently in the corridor. It started with a touch on the shoulder or on the arm, but moved on to being grabbed by the waist.
“When she was between 15 and 17, the teacher would hug and embrace her. If Pupil A did not go to the music room when the teacher asked, she felt he would get angry and agitated.
“Prior to the Covid lockdown, the teacher asked Pupil A for a hug. He embraced her tightly, and he became visibly upset and was crying. She kept trying to pull away but was unable to do so.
“She felt very uncomfortable and burst into tears when she left the room.”
During lockdown, Parfitt sent messages to Pupil A saying that he missed her, missed seeing her face and added kisses to the end.
Parfitt also cried during an online lesson when Pupil A said she would not be taking advanced highers, saying, “Have you thought about me in this situation and how it would affect me?”
He also attempted to exert control over Pupil A by harassing her in the school corridors.
In November 2021, Parfitt attempted to bribe Pupil A into participating in a school event by offering money and a lift in his car.
Pupil A made clear in her statement to the GTC that she “felt dismissed by the school ” when she finally found the courage to tell them what happened.
Throughout 2020, Parfitt bombarded another pupil, Pupil B, with messages calling her his “favourite former pupil,” saying he had been dreaming about her, and even offering to take her out to lunch.
He also wanted to visit her while she was in university in Edinburgh and made remarks such as “you were the last human being I have touched in seven months”.
In Pupil B’s testimony, she said she suffered from nightmares about seeing Parfitt again and was nervous to attend a leavers’ ceremony, but at that point, he had left the school.
In 2012, Parfitt corresponded with a third pupil, Pupil C, telling her, “I will be your father tonight”, when her father could not attend a concert.
It is also noted that Parfitt hugged Pupil C on several occasions and cried in her presence.
He also sent messages which said: “Bad girl. Alcohol dehydrates your vocal cords. It does a lot of other pleasant things!”
Parfitt also asked Pupil C not to put him in a difficult position as he loved his job and had “no intention of compromising it, causing embarrassment to St Margaret’s”.
Many of Parfitt’s actions were found to have been sexually motivated.
The GTCS found many of the allegations against Parfitt to be proven following testimony from both Pupil A and B.
The GTCS panel concluded Parfitt was attempting to develop a sexual relationship with all three pupils through messages and gestures.
In a statement provided to STV News, a spokesperson for St Margaret’s School apologised for the impact Parfitt’s conduct had on the pupils involved.
They said: “In November 2021, the school received allegations about Mr Parfitt’s behaviour and suspended him from school immediately. The matter was reported to the police, and an internal investigation was carried out, which led to his dismissal.
“The school made a referral regarding his Fitness to Teach to the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), and a separate independent criminal investigation took place. While a sheriff found Mr Parfitt to be not guilty of any criminal offence, the GTCS has now judged him unfit to teach.
“We are deeply sorry for any impact this has had on pupils. The welfare of our pupils is always our first priority and our strict safeguarding processes are under constant review both internally and by external safeguarding experts.
“As a school, we are never complacent, and are continually seeking ways to make sure pupils feel safe and able to report anything out of the ordinary or anything which makes them feel uncomfortable.”
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