And finally… GTCS fails to see the funny side

Michael Rankin, 54, who previously worked in the Australian prison service and as a taxi driver, said the decision to strike him off was made while he taught at Ardrossan Academy.

Mr Rankin said: “To be honest this has been a really difficult two years. It has been embarrassing to myself and my family.

“I was expecting this outcome and feel like the decision was made a long time ago to remove me from the register.

“It’s political correctness gone too far. I don’t want to make any further comment on the result - the letters from my ex pupils say it all.”

He added: “I am no longer wanting to pursue a teaching career.”

Mr Rankin faced 19 charges before the General Teaching Council for Scotland that covered the period between August 2012 and June 2013 – all of which were found proven and concerned students aged between 13 and 14.

He told one pupil: “Every time I sh** your mum she makes me a sandwich, that’s why I’m fat.”

But former head boy at the school William Boyd told the Daily Record the comments were taken out of context and that they were inspired by the television programme Still Game.

Mr Rankin said to another student:

“I need my glasses, I can’t see because of too much w****** - is that why you wear glasses?”

He was also charged with telling a pupil, while watching the film Bend It Like Beckham in a scene with a car rocking: “That’s me and your mum in the back.”

He is said to have used the F-word at least six times in addition to other bad words.

However, seven ex-students came to his defence at the hearing, writing statements of support.

The former pupils, now adults praised Mr Rankin.

One said he was an encouraging and reassuring teacher” who would “go out of his way to help pupils in need”.

Another said: “He was an effective and inspirational teacher. There was a degree of informality in his class which was why we engaged with him the most.”

David Smith, 23, said: “He was my tech and product design teacher. I’m not saying he didn’t use the odd swear word because he did.

“But he never, ever crossed that line with us. He was never derogatory, it was always in jest - playful humour.

“I’m not saying his more recent comments are acceptable but he had a different style of teaching and it worked.

“I definitely owe my success as an electrical contracts manager to him. He has changed a lot of people’s life in a positive way.”

In striking him off, the GTCS described Mr Rankin’s behaviour as “wholly inappropriate” and “unacceptable”.