Wisbech teacher banned for life after finding of 'sexually motivated' behaviour

A former Wisbech teacher has been banned from the country’s classrooms for life after being found guilty of allegations over his 'sexually motivated' conduct towards a pupil.

Gary Crossley, who taught at the Thomas Clarkson Academy from July 2013 until, following a school investigation into his behaviour, January 2020, admitted the allegations brought against him at the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) disciplinary proceedings.

The allegations included that he provided his personal contact details to a girl pupil, contacted her repeatedly on WhatsApp, with inappropriate or sexually motivated messages about her personal relationships and about his own romantic relationships.

He was also said to have sent inappropriate messages to an ex girl pupil one of which was said to have included the phrase “hope your knickers don’t get wet” in response to her comment that it was pouring with rain.

The panel said in their findings they were satisfied that Mr Crossley was guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct” which was sexually motivated and could bring the teaching profession into disrepute.

They said that Mr Crossley had submitted that he was “incredibly sorry and felt ashamed of his actions” but they continued: “Mr Crossley’s statement did not show any meaningful insight or reflection on his actions.”

In the circumstances they said they considered that he had fallen “seriously short” of the standards expected of teachers. They said they considered it was “both appropriate and proportionate” that he should be banned

In many cases when teachers are banned the way is left open for them to seek to have the ban lifted after a set period of time but in this case the panel said: “The panel decided that the findings indicated a situation in which a review period would not be appropriate and, as such, decided that it would be proportionate in all the circumstances for the prohibition order to be recommended without provisions for a review period.”

Agreeing with the panel and imposing a life-time ban on behalf of the Education Secretary, TRA decision maker, Sarah Buxey, said: “In my judgement, the lack of full insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils."

She said she considered that a ban was appropriate and that making it a life time ban was in the public interest necessary to maintain public confidence in the teaching profession.