Teacher allegedly sends inappropriate photographs to 16 year old school girl

A 33 year old provisionally registered teacher entered into an inappropriate relationship with a 16 year old school girl. Her parents had arranged for her to be tutored by the teacher who was a family friend. The teacher engaged in an inappropriate conversation with the student on Facebook, and sent inappropriate photographs to her.

The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal held that the teacher’s admission that he had crossed some boundaries was a gross understatement of the situation.

The teacher denied that he and the student were exchanging photographs, and that the photographs discussed in a Facebook message were those in evidence. The Tribunal found this hard to accept but found on the evidence that they could not conclude that the teacher had sent any of the photographs, or that the photographs were of the teacher.

Despite this, the Tribunal concluded that it was inappropriate for the teacher to allow himself to get involved in an emotional relationship with a 16 year old student for whom he had assumed a degree of responsibility.

The Tribunal censured the teacher for serious misconduct, and ordered the cancellation of his registration.