A former teacher at Ursuline College in Westgate-on-Sea has been banned from teaching after engaging in a sexual relationship with a student. Tom Field, who had been teaching at the school for nearly twenty years, confessed to having sex with the student a day after her final exam.
During a hearing by the Teacher Regulation Agency panel, it was revealed that the 46-year-old teacher dropped off some pupils at various locations before informing the student that he desired to have sexual relations with her. The student later disclosed that although she did not explicitly refuse, she felt that the situation was inappropriate.
Mr. Field took the student to his home and engaged in sexual activity with her on two occasions, with the second incident occurring after he called in sick to work. The student eventually confided in a staff member, leading to Mr. Field’s resignation from the school.
The panel determined that Mr. Field’s actions were driven by sexual motives and constituted a severe breach of his position as a teacher. They highlighted his disregard for professional boundaries and duty of care, noting his lack of genuine remorse and insight into the gravity of his misconduct.
Furthermore, it was disclosed that Mr. Field had taken students to a local pub without authorization, where he allowed them to consume alcohol and food before focusing his attention on the student he later engaged in sexual activities with. This behavior was deemed as a flagrant violation of professional standards.
Ursuline College’s Headteacher, Danielle Lancefield, emphasized the school’s commitment to safeguarding pupils and promptly suspending Mr. Field upon learning of the allegations. She reiterated the school’s adherence to rigorous policies and statutory requirements regarding staff recruitment.
In response to the incident, Ofsted inspected the school and commended its robust safeguarding measures and adherence to recruitment regulations. The school continues to uphold these standards to ensure the safety and well-being of its students.