Teacher at prestigious school struck off for helping students cheat

Eric Tessier-Lavigne outside the GTC Scotland

By Cara Sulieman

A TEACHER at a school once attended by the Prince of Wales has been struck off for helping pupils cheat in preparations for their oral French exam.

Eric Tessier-Lavigne admitted he sent 11 pupils at Gordonstoun School emails about a conversation topic in their GCSE exam, containing phrases “destroy after reading” and “for your eyes and ears only”.

He blamed inexperience and a lack of guidance from his senior colleagues for his actions, but argued he had not handed pupils any unfair advantage.

But yesterday the Disciplinary Sub-Committee of the General Teaching Council Scotland found the 51-year-old guilty of misconduct and removed him from the register.

Jacobite memoirs reveal “impoverished” and “drunken” nation

By Zoe Keown

AS tourists would agree, Scotland is a country that is loved for its history-laden scenery, romantic charm, Celtic fayre and endearing humbleness.

But the travel diary of Jacobite duke Marshal Alexandre MacDonald, written after the first visit to his father’s homeland, reflected an impoverished nation of heavy drinkers captivated by celebrities.

The diarist’s father fled his home on the Scots island of Uist in 1746 with Bonnie Prince Charlie after his defeat at Culloden.

MacDonald was brought up in France, where his father settled, but after becoming accustomed to Parisian society was shocked upon his first visit to Scotland.

Now uncovered from the French National Archives for the first time in nearly 200 years, disapproving Frenchman MacDonald provides an insight into a raucous party with Sir Walter Scott.

Top private school teacher faces being struck off for helping students cheat

By Cara Sulieman

A FRENCH teacher who worked at Prince Charles’ former school faces being struck off over allegations that he helped students cheat on an oral exam.

Eric Tessier-Lavigne is alleged to have given 11 pupils at Gordonstoun School in Elgin an unfair advantage by emailing them information about a conversation topic the day before the GCSE French exam took place on May 4 2009.

It is also alleged the emails contained the instruction “destroy after reading”.

Today, the Disciplinary Sub-Committee of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC) heard that Mr Tessier-Lavigne denies the charges and the case was adjourned until April 27 when they will hear evidence.

Hairy Angel takes up residence on DJ’s tree

The picture of the angel on Unofficial Mills

By Cara Sulieman

SHE HAS been dubbed the Hairy Angel and now Susan Boyle has taken up residence as the Christmas angel on top of a radio DJ’s tree.

Scott Mills revealed SuBo as his tree-topper on his show on Radio 1 earlier this week.

And pictures of the decorations have been posted on the Unofficial Mills website – prompting comment from the DJ’s fans.

But rather than talking about the homage to the Britain’s Got Talent singer, they are commenting on Mills’ flat.

George Bush top of the league for nonsensical comments

By Cara Sulieman

FORMER US President George W Bush has been declared the worst culprit for making nonsensical comments.

And he is the only person to have two appearances in the top ten of a poll carried out by Aviva insurance.

It was his infamous statement that “our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we,” that clinched him the top spot.

He is joined by Bill Clinton, Boris Johnson and Eric Cantona in a range of foolish statements that span more than 30 years.

Jordan has been dumped

By Cara Sulieman

GLAMOUR model Jordan has been dumped – by fed up readers.

Jordan – real name Katie Price – publicly split with husband Peter Andre in May.

But while he’s riding high in the music charts she has topped the list of the most discarded books at Scots hotels.

The third installment of her life, Pushed to the Limit, is one of more than 7000 discarded books found in Travelodges across Scotland.

Gordon Ramsay’s new Paris restaurant branded ‘boring’ by renowned French food critic

By Oliver Farrimond

FEARED French food critic Francois Simon has slammed Gordon Ramsay’s new Parisian restaurant, saying that it serves up ‘photocopier food’.

Simon accused the Scottish born master-chef’s dishes of being ‘repetitive’ and ‘not interesting’.

His withering remarks will come as bad news to Ramsay, whose culinary empire is reportedly suffering from the effects of the global recession.

Speaking in an interview, Simon said: “Quite frankly, it’s just another gastronomic restaurant: boring, pompous and very expensive – I’d already eaten the same thing in Tokyo and all his restaurants in London.

“It’s a cuisine of duplication – repetitive cuisine is not interesting. It’s like a photocopier: it is Xerox food.”

His criticism came despite the restaurant being awarded two stars from the Michelin Guide.

Gordon Ramsey now has 12 Michelin stars to his name.

And short-tempered Scot said last March at the opening of the restaurant that he had “had a belly-full of the French coming over here and telling us how s**t our food is.”

The restaurant – which has only ten tables – is at the Trianon Hotel in Versailles, one of France’s most history-steeped and picturesque regions.

But Francois Simon said that he would rather eat in one of the local bistros.

He added: “It’s great for Gordon Ramsay, as he’s someone who works very hard and has a great deal of talent and has perfectly understood how international gastronomy functions.

“But it’s as if you invited me to dinner and offered me a pre-prepared dish you bought from a shop.

“Of course it’s good and you’ve warmed it up nicely, but I’m not interested in tasting it. I want to taste YOUR food.”

Simon Francois is world-famous for his devastating criticism – his surly columns for Le Figaro are legendary, and the character Anton Ego in the Disney-Pixar animated film Ratatouille is based on him.

Foie gras, roasted fig and Scottish venison were among the dishes tested out by Simon at the 75-seat brasserie.

A spokesman for Gordon Ramsay said that he had full faith in his team of chefs at the restaurant, and that they were delighted to receive two Michelin stars.