Pupils at Glendinning Terrace School in Galashiels where Irene Hogg was the head teacher were told the news when they arrived for lessons this morning (Thursday) and were sent home.

They had been told yesterday that the 54-year-old was missing. The school padre the Rev. Morag Dawson will conduct a special assembly service tomorrow before the school breaks for the spring fortnight holidays.

Today Director of Education for the Borders Glenn Rodger spoke with teachers and parents.



Miss Hogg - who lived alone at the village of Bowden near Selkirk - was last seen on Sunday night.

Police said they were concerned for her safety and issued a description and details of her car.

An RAF helicopter from Boulmer in Northumberland, dog teams, search and rescue squads and police were involved in searches which included rivers and woodland.

Early last night (Wednesday) Miss Hogg's silver Peugeot was spotted by a member of the public at Towford near Morebattle. Miss Hogg's body was found by a search team a short distance from the vehicle.

A police spokeswoman said : "There appear to be no suspicious circumstance and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

Glendinning Terrace School had undergone a routine inspection by HM Inspectorate and Miss Hogg had just been briefed on the findings prior to the report being made public. And it's understood the inspectors were critical of some aspects of the school.

A spokeswoman for the education department at Scottish Borders Council said they were deeply shocked and distressed at what they described as tragic news.

She added : "We will make a more detailed statement in the near future but at the moment our focus is on providing support to Miss Hogg's pupils and colleagues.

"We would like to extend our profound sympathy to her parents and family. This is a dreadful loss.

"An HMiE inspection did take place at the school last week. The report is expected to be published in due course."

Parent Patricia Touw told TheSouthern : "Miss Hogg was more than just a great teacher - she was a wonderful human being. This is a tragedy.

Miss Hogg has been in the teaching profession for around 35 years and was an active member of the EIS - Scotland's largest teaching union.