PE teacher banned from teaching due to sexual relations with pupil
A former PE teacher ha been banned from teaching indefinitely after engaging in sexual relations with a pupil.
Cheyne Phillips, 34, formerly deputy head of PE, also sent sexually inappropriate messages and photographs to another pupil at the Healing Science Academy in Grimsby, North-East Lincolnshire.
Phillips denied the allegations, but a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) disciplinary hearing last month found he had exploited his position of trust by pursuing “highly inappropriate relationships and sexual misconduct with children”.
Abuse of Power and Trust
Phillips was employed at the school between 6 July 2016 and 22 July 2022. In October 2021, a pupil’s mother submitted a complaint after discovering messages of a sexual nature from Phillips to her child. Subsequently on 15 November 2021, a different pupil’s mother reported that her daughter, who had recently left the school, had engaged in sexual activity with Phillips and she had received a series of explicit messages and communications from him via Snapchat.
Humberside Police said it had received a report concerning “inappropriate conduct and relationships of a teacher” but that following a “full and thorough investigation”, no further action was taken.
Nonetheless, despite the fact that there has been no successful investigation into criminality by Phillips, the TRA was still able to launch an investigation into whether his behaviour breached professional standards.
The TRA panel found Phillips had engaged in sexual relations with a former pupil, received explicit photographs, and had exchanged sexually inappropriate communications with at least one other pupil during his employment. In some cases, the communication occurred via Snapchat – an app often chosen for its disappearing messages, further reflecting calculated and predatory behaviour.
The outcome
The panel concluded that Phillips had fallen significantly short of the standards expected of a teacher. As a result, he has been banned from teaching indefinitely, with no option to appeal or apply for reinstatement in the future.
The importance of this case
No doubt many will be wondering why the police were unable to pursue criminal charges in this case but this case demonstrates the criminal courts are not the only avenues to pursue justice for survivors.
Some actions may be exploitative and abusive and inappropriate but still not fall within the narrow definition needed to prove a crime. Although the police were unable to prosecute this teacher, the TRA have still been able to take action prevent him from teaching in the future.
Similarly, I specialise in bringing civil claims for compensation on behalf of victims of abuse – which is a further route to justice for survivors, which can go alongside or, in some cases, in place of a criminal investigation.
Teachers and school leaders must understand that their role carries not just academic responsibilities, but moral and ethical and civil responsibilities too. Misuse the position of power and influence of a teacher is a gross betrayal of what the profession stands for. Schools must have a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of the boundaries between pupils and teachers.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp we are committed to supporting survivors of abuse in seeking justice. I am an experienced solicitor who acts on behalf of survivors of abuse and I happy to speak directly to survivors trying to understand their legal rights.
