In a case that has stirred debate across Scottish classrooms and social media platforms, a former physics teacher who branded herself online as a “good teacher gone bad” has been struck off the teaching register after sexually explicit images from her OnlyFans profile were viewed by senior pupils at her school.
Kirsty Buchan, 34, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, taught at Bannerman High School in Glasgow’s east end. She had been operating a paid-for OnlyFans account under the pseudonym Jessica Jackrabbit, which she also advertised through Instagram — an account visible to pupils.
Last week, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) found that Buchan failed to separate her private and professional life and had brought the teaching profession into disrepute. She did not attend the hearing, nor offer a defence, telling BBC News beforehand that “they’ve already made up their minds”.
Instagram, Identity & Integrity
At the heart of the case was Buchan’s social media visibility — and what it exposed.
Despite earlier informal warnings from her head teacher about boundary-blurring posts, Buchan continued using public platforms to promote her adult content. The GTCS panel said that pupils were able to find the content with minimal effort and concluded that she had made little attempt to conceal her identity or teaching role.
According to solicitor Gary Burton, presenting officer for the GTCS, “She used her profession as a selling tool.”
In interviews with tabloids, Buchan appeared unrepentant, stating she had no regrets and citing financial hardship as a motive. “I worked at Tesco. I worked as an elf at Braehead. I was trying to make ends meet,” she told the Daily Record.
“I didn’t want to leave my job. But I had no choice.”
A Teacher’s Fall — and a School’s Disruption
Head teacher Seonaidh Black, who gave evidence at the hearing, painted a more complex picture. She described Buchan as “bubbly and enthusiastic” and recalled how she had tried to intervene early, with informal chats about online boundaries.
But by late 2022, things spiralled. Pupils in S5 and S6 had not only found the material — some had begun mocking staff with taunts like “look out for Jessica Jackrabbit.” One email, sent from a pupil’s school account under the guise of a parent, included topless images lifted from Buchan’s page.
At the time, the school was already reeling from industrial action over pupil behaviour. “It was coincidental or perhaps deliberate,” Black noted, that the revelations came just days before a planned teachers’ picket.
“A Long Time Before People Stop Talking About It”
While the GTCS panel focused on professional integrity, Black was concerned about the wider message being sent to pupils.
“What doesn’t help,” she said, “is when your teacher is on a website where the content they are presenting has a pornographic element.”
The damage to the school community, she added, was not just reputational — it was personal.
“We’re trying to make sure our young people feel valued for who they are, not thinking everything is about what’s on show on social media.”
That cultural clash — between a hyper-sexualised online world and the values schools try to instil — has now taken centre stage.
£50,000 a Month? A New Life, But at What Cost?
In video interviews shown during the hearing, Buchan was frank. Teaching, she claimed, simply didn’t pay enough for the hours required. She said she earned up to £50,000 per month through OnlyFans.
“It’s the definition of insanity,” she told reporters. “Why would I keep teaching when I can sit on my behind and make more?”
She accused the system of hypocrisy, saying the problem wasn’t her content, but other people’s jealousy. “If people have a problem with it, it’s because they can’t do it themselves.”
The Legal Line — And Where It Was Crossed
GTCS investigator Hannah Oakley confirmed she was able to access elements of Buchan’s OnlyFans profile without subscribing, using publicly available information from media coverage.
The council found that Buchan’s conduct showed:
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A lack of insight into the impact on pupils and staff;
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A failure to maintain clear boundaries between her teaching and personal life;
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An unwillingness to engage with professional standards procedures.
Burton, the presenting officer, described her stance as “zero insight into her conduct”, adding that her decision to monetise her profession undermined her credibility as a role model.
The GTCS struck her off with immediate effect and ruled she cannot reapply for registration for at least two years.
The System Responds — But Slowly
In a statement, Glasgow City Council said:
“A teacher who has actively pursued a second income on this type of website brings their school, the council and their profession into disrepute.”
However, some observers have asked whether the system acted too late. Despite earlier concerns raised informally within the school, no formal disciplinary action was initiated until after the images surfaced among pupils.
And some, including Buchan herself, have accused the GTCS of having already made up its mind before the hearing even took place.
A Cultural Moment — or a One-Off?
Buchan’s case may be unique in its visibility, but it opens up bigger questions for educators navigating today’s blurred lines between public, private and digital identities.
In an era where social media platforms and subscription-based content creation have exploded, some argue the profession needs clearer guidance — not just reactive punishment.
But for Bannerman High, the damage is done.
As head teacher Black said with resignation:
“It’ll be a long time before people stop talking about Kirsty.”
