Former teacher in Grimsby barred from profession after 'sexual activity with pupil'

ITV News

3 days ago

A former teacher has been barred from teaching ever again after a disciplinary panel found he had sexual relations with a pupil and sent inappropriate messages and photos to another.
A Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel has issued an order to ban Cheyne Phillips, 34, who taught at Healing Academy near Grimsby between 2016 and 2022, from teaching indefinitely.
Findings included that Mr Phillips fell significantly short of professional standards, sent comments of a sexual or inappropriate nature, and had sexual relations with one pupil.
One message Mr Phillips is alleged to have sent to one of the pupils, highlighted by the panel for its inappropriate nature, said: "Times ticking baby cakes [emoji] u either want ur eyes to water or you don't [emoji].'
The Harbour Learning Trust, which runs the school says the incident was dealt with swiftly under a previous headteacher and chief executive officer, and it complied fully with the investigation.
The Teaching Regulation Agency panel viewed the misconduct findings as particularly serious as they "include a finding of sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and activity involving viewing and possessing indecent photographs of a child".
Both pupils reported Mr Phillips' behaviour towards them changed as they entered the last months of their time at school.
Screenshots showed Instagram messages between Mr Phillips and one of the pupils, including him sending one which read: 'Is this the part where I get lucky and get a few pics and videos? [emojis].'
Messages with the other pupil were alleged to have occurred by Snapchat, a social media app where screenshotting notifies the other person of this action. Consequently, the pupil copied and pasted messages sent by Mr Phillips, such as 'Times ticking baby cakes'.
The panel found Mr Phillips was sexually motivated in pursuing entirely inappropriate lines of communication with both pupils.
It was found on the balance of probabilities he had sexual relations with one pupil on one or more occasions, and received one or more explicit photographs of the pupil.
This pupil stated in her evidence that Mr Phillips would request explicit images. This was not a finding of fact made by the panel, but it did find Mr Phillips requested pictures from the other pupil.
There was no doubt from the panel that both pupils had been harmed and Mr Phillips' actions "were having a serious and continued effect" on them.
The teaching ban will last for life, unless it is appealed at High Court within 28 days of the order's issuing.
Mr Phillips chose not to attend the hearing as he did not feel in a position to properly respond to the allegations, the panel heard.
But in a written statement, he had denied the allegations and a large amount of the factual assertions surrounding them. He also stated regardless of the outcome, he did not wish, or intend, to return to teaching.
In a statement, Harbour Learning Trust, which runs Healing Academy, said it is :committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all of our students and expects all our staff to share this unwavering commitment".
It continued: "We wish to make it unequivocally clear that the behaviours attributed to this individual do not align with the values, professional standards, or expectations held by our Trust.
"We are deeply committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all students, and any actions that undermine this commitment are viewed with the utmost seriousness.
"We can confirm that this incident was dealt with swiftly by the Trust, under the previous CEO and Headteacher, and the school and Trust have complied fully with the investigation.
"Harbour Learning Trust do not condone behaviour that compromises the well-being, trust, or safety of our students in any way. Our primary concern remains the protection and education of the young people in our care."