Grammar school teacher captured on CCTV kissing pupil banned from teaching
A grammar school teacher has been banned for life from the classroom after he was seen kissing a pupil on CCTV.
Lee Fountain, 46, blamed stress for his actions when he attended a teacher misconduct panel, which found he exploited the pupil’s vulnerability after she had confided that she had developed feelings for him.
Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, in Ramsgate, Kent, took swift action, removing him from his position as soon as the incident came to light, and conducting a full investigation. When questioned during the misconduct hearing, Fountain described his actions as the result of “stress, a temporary massive lapse of judgment, and allowing myself to get too close to a student”.
Fountain accepted a police caution for sexual activity with a female aged between 13 and 17 during their investigations in 2022.
The Teaching Regulation Agency banned Fountain from teaching indefinitely, concluding that, given the seriousness of the case, it would not be appropriate to set a review period. Instead, he would need to formally apply if he wished to have the order lifted in the future.
Fortunately for this pupil, the incident was captured on CCTV, which may have prevented further and potentially more serious harm. Sadly, in some cases, such behaviour goes unnoticed and can continue over an extended period, which is deeply concerning and completely unacceptable.
If you or someone you care about has experienced a similar situation, please reach out to us. We provide free and confidential advice to help you understand your legal rights and options.
