Anne Woodhouse v a drag queen teacher

Without revealing myself too much @Woodmoose, incompetence would be my first conclusion!

A complainant is not represented. They are a witness for the HCPC who are taking the case.

I have a very very long list of concerns about the HCPC process - incompetence or malice? I fear the former but the experience was the latter. Much yet to be said. I won’t be saying it without lawyers!

I’ll be interested to read the final decision but based on the TT account it seems very poor case handling on the part of HCPC is the primary reason why a no case to answer decision was given. The case fell at the first test. They failed to evidence that the account was “public” beyond one mention of a name back in 2014. They failed to demonstrate that a “like” was agreement with the posts. They failed to demonstrate that the link between TW and fetish was a false equivalence. They failed to provide evidence or comment on AW’s husband’s access to the account (which is relevant when assessing FtP on part of registrant).

Basically should never have got beyond the previous stage at investigating committee. I don’t think these cases often do so seems odd that this one went all the way to tribunal.

I also really enjoyed NC’s “Stop!” in response to the complainant almost naming his place of work despite it being made clear at the start neither AW’s married name or the school should be named.

Referring to the post about trans women and men’s fetishes Ms Cunningham, who represented nurse Sandie Peggie in her battle against NHS Fife, said: ‘No doubt that is a statement that some people find offensive.

‘It’s also a statement many people consider to be true.’

And the more men try to shut women up who raise it, the truer it looks.

@WoodmooseI was heartened to read in your statement that you found the HCPC panel to be professional and, I think, you also said the same of their lawyer. But, to get as far as it did, you must have had some negative HCPC experiences - which I won’t ask you to air publicly. Can you share any recommendations you have for the HCPC so they can learn from their mistakes?

Im a fellow HCPC registrant and have been involved in providing evidence for FTP investigations - both those that were not taken forward and those that were. In all instances, the HCPC set a high bar for what was taken forward. I think it’s revealing to set, side by side the ‘poor practice’ that directly experienced by patients and ‘no case to answer’ was found and your social media posts being considered in need of a hearing.

It’s really upsetting to me that the platform TRAs have result in social media postings being seen as more concerning than some of the treatment vulnerable patients are directly exposed to.

Apologies - I misunderstood.

Just for your entertainment - this is his testimony detailing how he found her personal details when questioned by Naomi Cunningham:

"NC I wont keep u long. In May 22 the R had a child at yr sch and u learnt she had GC views
Yes. There was a lot going on then. I was in comm w her about exams. She signed off w her profess title and it clicked who she was
NC U learned her profess name as she wrote using her
NC profess name
JNC Yes
NC U guessed she may be the @ moose twitter account
JNC Yes
NC Look at tweet of 19 Sept 14. It starts w handle of another user. So a reply or @ them
JNC I put in woodhouse and these tweets came up
NC Woodhouse and woodmouse came up so u surmised were the same ppl
NC So u searched whole of twitter and found these
Yes "

No wonder the case was dismissed so speedily.

Yes but the question was who paid for his barrister/counsel. There wasn’t one mentioned by TT and it wouldn’t be usual for a witness to have one in an FTP tribunal.

The complainant was in the witness box - hidden behind a special screen as he was too frit to face the women & parent he'd been hounding for so long in her professional life.

I suspect it matters a lot. A teacher's personal social media accounts should never be the venue for posting photos of individual school children. The school account with permission is fine.
I'm amazed to see a senior person in a school behave in this way.

The case is between the HCPC and the registrant, I don’t think the complainant was represented in the hearing.

If only he was as resilient as his pupils - perhaps if he practiced what he preached he'd be able to withstand views he doesn't agree with, without resorting to bullying tactics and tribunals.

I'm not sure pupil photos are an issue - I know I signed photo consent for my dc to have pictures used on SM. Maybe it matters where they are used though, an official school account?

@Woodmoose so very glad you had the win but horrified that you were put through this.

What I can't understand is how this was allowed to go this far and for so long. There needs to be accountability at the regulator, who made the decision to spend money on legal bills to pursue this?

Sorry I spammed the thread with a load of images.

The teacher is beaching parental consent and policies by posting photos of kids and their names on his own social media with no controls. Anyone can access this.

"I still struggle to believe we're living in a time where women are routinely being put through this kind of hell just for standing up for their rights or the safeguarding of children. Even worse the way these men attempt to ruin women's professional careers (backed up by numerous captured institutions) and frame it as some sort of virtuous crusade rather than the petty, misogynistic vindictiveness it so blatantly is."

Yes to all this.

And @Woodmoose great to see you here. I hope you have a wonderful, restful Christmas with your family. 💐

They are so long and tortured and self serving and then they get like one comment and a few likes.

Clearly no peer support in general. It’s hard not to get a few likes even out of pity.

Morning @Woodmoose, sorry you’ve been soldiering on with this. There is so much happening all across the UK I only learned of your case earlier in the week from Tribunal Tweets. Horrific nightmare.

Clearest DAVRO I’ve seen in some time.

Surely there is conflict of interest in having another paid job as a head teacher. Unless it’s been cleared by the school authorities? Acting out his fetish to very young children and paid by taxpayers is shocking. 😮

You had a great legal team. When Naomi said hold on this is absolute nonsense. Then they had a wee think - and alll dusted on Friday in three minutes. All those years of stress all for the want of common sense.

Well done and best wishes to you and your family.

The regulator brought the action on his evidence. So they paid.

Thank you for your bravery, Woodmouse.
Agree, as it's been noted many times, the process is indeed the punishment and you have shown amazing strength to get through it 💐

I still struggle to believe we're living in a time where women are routinely being put through this kind of hell just for standing up for their rights or the safeguarding of children. Even worse the way these men attempt to ruin women's professional careers (backed up by numerous captured institutions) and frame it as some sort of virtuous crusade rather than the petty, misogynistic vindictiveness it so blatantly is.

From Moray Council website, June 2023:

"Moray’s first Drag Queen Story Telling brings a touch of glamour to Elgin Library on Saturday 10 June as the libraries service celebrates Pride month.
Running from 10am, Moray’s very own Miss Lossie Mouth, will lead a fun and interactive show suitable for children aged 0-6."

Children aged 0-6? Can't imagine why...

I’m in awe of you woodmouse, what a horrible thing to go through- just for raising safeguarding concerns. Thank you for standing up for women and children. I hope you have a peaceful break over Christmas!

@Woodmoose You are one very strong woman to have gone through this and come out victorious - I can't even begin to imagine the toll this must have had on you and your family. This man should be hung out to dry - vicious bully that he is. If you do decide to take this forward then I wish you well - you certainly have my support.