Scarborough teacher struck off following affair with pupil

A teacher who taught at Malton and lived in Scarborough has been banned from the country's classrooms for life after findings that he had an affair with a pupil.

History teacher Timothy Richardson, 34, joined Malton School as a newly qualified teacher in 2004 and in 2012 he was promoted to the position of head of the upper school.

But a teachers disciplinary panel was told at a hearing in Coventry that he had a “sexually motivated” affair with a girl at the school.

The life-time ban was imposed on behalf of Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, after Richardson was found guilty by the National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) panel of : entering into a relationship with the girl; engaging in sexual activity with her; failing to admit the relationship when questioned by his bosses; fraudulently producing letters purported to be from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to explain his absences from school; and attempting to mislead his bosses about the reasons for his absences.

The panel found that the affair with the girl, identified only as pupil A, was sexually motivated and that overall he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. The girl was said to have stayed at his home in Scarborough with him on occasions.

Imposing the ban on him Alan Meyrick, Deputy director of the (NCTL), said it was a serious case. He said: “Mr Richardson formed an inappropriate sexual relationship with a pupil, and produced fraudulent documentation to support unexplained absences from school.

“I agree with the panel’s opinion that the behaviours of Mr Richardson can be associated with sexual activity and fraud or serious dishonestly, and demonstrates conduct falling significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.”

He continued : “Mr Richardson influenced a student into an inappropriate sexual relationship with him. I agree with the panel that relationships of this nature have the potential to be seriously harmful. Mr Richardson also demonstrated misleading behaviour in relation to the fraudulent documentation.

“I note that the panel were concerned that Mr Richardson has shown no insight into the unacceptability of his conduct, nor were the panel satisfied that Mr Richardson has demonstrated he would not repeat similar behaviours in the future.”

He said he agreed with the panel that Mr Richardson should be banned from teaching for life.

Mr Richardson has a right of appeal to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court against the ruling and the ban.