East Doncaster Secondary College teacher banned from teaching by Victorian Institute of Teaching

A well-known Melbourne composer, musician and “disruptive” East Doncaster Secondary College teacher has been banned from teaching for five years by the state’s teaching regulator.

Scott Copeman, who has recently worked as a leading teacher at East Doncaster Secondary College, has had his registration to teach cancelled by the VIT.

A well-known Melbourne composer, musician and “disruptive” high school teacher has been banned from teaching for five years by the state’s teaching regulator.

Scott Copeman, who has recently worked as a leading teacher at East Doncaster Secondary College, has had his registration to teach cancelled.

As a result of the disciplinary action by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), Mr Copeman, who was co-ordinator of performing arts at the outer east state high school, cannot teach in a school for five years.

This action was taken by the VIT as a result of Mr Copeman being refused a working with children check.

The VIT notified the Department of Scott Copeman’s interim suspension in December 2023.

Mr Copeman is well known in the Melbourne music community and describes himself as a “disruptive educator & learner, pianist & composer trying to find ways to get it right”.

His biography also notes that as an educator, he has “a passion for disruptive pedagogies that seek to ignite passion for learning across the curriculum”.

His recent works include song cycles ‘India’s Dragons’ (2011), ‘Red Gum’ (2012) for the Australian Children’s Choir, and ‘When I Close My Eyes And Open The Door’ (2013) for Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School.

Mr Copeman was also a composer for the Grainger Wind Symphony, a Melbourne-based not-for-profit group made up of musicians who share a passion for creating quality wind-band music.

He worked remotely as an emerging composer in 2020 with Flinders Quartet although he has never been involved with the group directly as a musician or teacher.

He has also worked in Sydney and Edinburgh in Scotland.

A Department of Education spokesman said the safety and wellbeing of students was its highest priority.

“We have strong protocols in place regarding Child Safety Standards, including clear rules around appropriate teacher and student conduct, and mandatory action is taken when allegations of abuse or inappropriate behaviour require investigation,” he said.

It comes just days after the Herald Sun revealed Dean Norris, who was Girton Grammar School’s head of the Physical Education department, was suspended on an interim basis by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) on July 10.

Mr Norris was the 42nd teacher to face disciplinary action by the VIT in 2024.