The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has struck off a female teacher who entered into an inappropriate relationship with a 17 year old female student while the teacher was teaching physical education in the United Kingdom.

The school at which she was teaching became concerned at the excessive time the two were spending together but there was insufficient evidence at that stage to take the matter further.

However, when the student went missing the teacher helped to locate her.  The Police discovered on the student’s phone messages between the student and the teacher, some of which were of a sexual nature.  The teacher was arrested and dismissed from her school and returned to New Zealand.  The matter was referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand who found that the teacher’s actions adversely reflected on her fitness to teach and brought the teaching profession into disrepute.  The teacher accepted those findings. The Tribunal cancelled the teacher’s registration.

Alan Knowsley

Education Lawyer
Wellington