Latest news with #HelenFlinders
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Former Swindon teacher had sex with pupil at teen's family home
A teacher has been banned from the profession after admitting to a six-month sexual relationship with a pupil 25 years Flinders, 55, was working at St Joseph's School in Swindon when she kissed the student at another teacher's house following sports day, leading to regular sexual encounters at the student's house throughout incident came to light in 2011 while Ms Flinders was employed at another school, from which she resigned a few months Police said no action was taken due to legislation at the time. Giving evidence at a professional conduct hearing, Ms Flinders said: "During July 2000, I went for a drink with Pupil A after sports day. "We then went to another teacher's house. I asked Pupil A for a kiss goodbye. He kissed me and it was consensual."She explained a "consensual sexual relationship" then pupil said: "During the summer, my parents worked during the day and were out of the house, so they were not aware that our relationship had progressed to a sexual relationship."The pupil ended the relationship in December 2000. Rumours confirmed Ms Flinders left St Joseph's in March 2002 and started working as an art teacher at Churchfields school in September 2011, the pupil was asked about the rumours of their relationship and confirmed it to someone whose relative worked as head of art at Churchfields School, leading to the police investigation. Ms Flinders resigned and did not return to teaching.A referral was made to the Teaching Regulation Agency in March 2022. The Abuse of Position of Trust legislation, making it an offence for anyone over 18 to have sexual intercourse with a younger person if they are in a position of trust over them, was not enacted until 8 January was weeks after the sexual relationship ceased, so no further action was taken by the police. During the hearing, the pupil agreed the relationship was consensual, stating he never felt taken advantage of and did "not hold any bad feelings toward her".In a witness statement, Ms Flinders apologised to the pupil, adding: "I hope the process for him of reliving these events have not harmed him in any way. "I hope he can move forward in a positive light."The panel said she "seriously breached the teacher pupil boundary, abused her position of trust and failed to protect the safety and well-being of Pupil A", banning her from teaching for life.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher banned over intimate five-month relationship with pupil
An art teacher has been banned from the profession for kissing a student after sports day and having sex with them at their parents' home regularly. Helen Flinders, 55, had a five-month relationship with a student while teaching at St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon, Wiltshire. A Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct panel found she had 'seriously breached the teacher-pupil boundary' and that her behaviour represented a 'complete abuse of her position of trust'. Flinders began teaching at the school in 1994, before beginning a sexual relationship with a student, referred to as Student A, in June or July 2000. In a witness statement given to the TRA, Ms Flinders admitted to the accusations and said: 'During July 2000, I went for a drink with Pupil A after sports day. We then went to another teacher's house. I asked Pupil A for a kiss goodbye. He kissed me and it was consensual. 'A consensual sexual relationship began during the summer break of 2000. I met up with Pupil A approximately three or four times during the summer break of 2000 at his parents' house… My sexual relationship with Pupil A lasted around 5 and a half months from July to December 2000.' Pupil A stated in his witness statement that Ms Flinders regularly had sex with him at his parents' house over the summer break of 2000. He stated: 'The first time Helen Flinders and I had sex was in my parents' house. She came over, and had asked what I wanted to do, and whether I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. It therefore progressed into a consensual sexual relationship. 'During the summer, my parents worked during the day and were out of the house, so they were not aware that our relationship had progressed to a sexual relationship.' The relationship ended in December 2000, and Ms Flinders later moved to teach at Churchfields School in Swindon. In 2011, Pupil A was asked by someone he was dating whether the rumours of his relationship with Mr Flinders were true, to which he said yes. Churchfields School was notified and she was suspended and later resigned. Police began an investigation but did not refer the case to the TRA until 2022, when Ms Flinders admitted to the allegations. After the TRA panel found the accusations against Ms Flinders proven, Duncan Tilley, the panel chairman, said: 'The panel noted that whilst the term 'safeguarding' was not widely used back in 2000, there was still a clear expectation for teachers to keep children safe and protect their well-being. 'The panel considered that Miss Flinders' conduct fell significantly short of the standards of behaviour expected of the profession at the time, given the serious nature of her conduct which the panel considered to be a complete abuse of her position of trust to commence a sexual relationship with one of her pupils. 'The panel also noted that despite Pupil A and Miss Flinders stating that the sexual relationship was consensual, the panel considered the potential harmful impact that this relationship could have had on Pupil A's life.' Sarah Buxcey, the decision maker, said on behalf of the Secretary of State: 'Miss Helen Flinders is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or 18 children's home in England. 'Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Miss Helen Flinders shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach.' Ms Flinders, who faces no police action, has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
Teacher banned over intimate five-month relationship with pupil
An art teacher has been banned from the profession for kissing a student after sports day and having sex with them at their parents' home regularly. Helen Flinders, 55, had a five-month relationship with a student while teaching at St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon, Wiltshire. A Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct panel found she had 'seriously breached the teacher-pupil boundary' and that her behaviour represented a 'complete abuse of her position of trust'. Flinders began teaching at the school in 1994, before beginning a sexual relationship with a student, referred to as Student A, in June or July 2000. In a witness statement given to the TRA, Ms Flinders admitted to the accusations and said: 'During July 2000, I went for a drink with Pupil A after sports day. We then went to another teacher's house. I asked Pupil A for a kiss goodbye. He kissed me and it was consensual. 'A consensual sexual relationship began during the summer break of 2000. I met up with Pupil A approximately three or four times during the summer break of 2000 at his parents' house… My sexual relationship with Pupil A lasted around 5 and a half months from July to December 2000.' Pupil A stated in his witness statement that Ms Flinders regularly had sex with him at his parents' house over the summer break of 2000. He stated: 'The first time Helen Flinders and I had sex was in my parents' house. She came over, and had asked what I wanted to do, and whether I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. It therefore progressed into a consensual sexual relationship. 'During the summer, my parents worked during the day and were out of the house, so they were not aware that our relationship had progressed to a sexual relationship.' The relationship ended in December 2000, and Ms Flinders later moved to teach at Churchfields School in Swindon. In 2011, Pupil A was asked by someone he was dating whether the rumours of his relationship with Mr Flinders were true, to which he said yes. Churchfields School was notified and she was suspended and later resigned. Police began an investigation but did not refer the case to the TRA until 2022, when Ms Flinders admitted to the allegations. After the TRA panel found the accusations against Ms Flinders proven, Duncan Tilley, the panel chairman, said: 'The panel noted that whilst the term 'safeguarding' was not widely used back in 2000, there was still a clear expectation for teachers to keep children safe and protect their well-being. 'The panel considered that Miss Flinders' conduct fell significantly short of the standards of behaviour expected of the profession at the time, given the serious nature of her conduct which the panel considered to be a complete abuse of her position of trust to commence a sexual relationship with one of her pupils. 'The panel also noted that despite Pupil A and Miss Flinders stating that the sexual relationship was consensual, the panel considered the potential harmful impact that this relationship could have had on Pupil A's life.' Sarah Buxcey, the decision maker, said on behalf of the Secretary of State: 'Miss Helen Flinders is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or 18 children's home in England. 'Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Miss Helen Flinders shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach.' Ms Flinders, who faces no police action, has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- The Independent
Teacher banned over intimate relationship with pupil that began after post-sports day drink
An art teacher has been banned from the profession for kissing a student after sports day and having sex with them at their parents' home regularly. Helen Flinders, 55, had a five-month relationship with a student while teaching at St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon, Wiltshire. A Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct panel found she had 'seriously breached the teacher-pupil boundary' and that her behaviour represented a 'complete abuse of her position of trust'. Flinders began teaching at the school in 1994, before beginning a sexual relationship with a student, referred to as Student A, in June or July 2000. In a witness statement given to the TRA, Ms Flinders admitted to the accusations and said: 'During July 2000, I went for a drink with Pupil A after sports day. We then went to another teacher's house. I asked Pupil A for a kiss goodbye. He kissed me and it was consensual. 'A consensual sexual relationship began during the summer break of 2000. I met up with Pupil A approximately three or four times during the summer break of 2000 at his parents' house… My sexual relationship with Pupil A lasted around 5 and a half months from July to December 2000.' Pupil A stated in his witness statement that Ms Flinders regularly had sex with him at his parents' house over the summer break of 2000. He stated: 'The first time Helen Flinders and I had sex was in my parents' house. She came over, and had asked what I wanted to do, and whether I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. It therefore progressed into a consensual sexual relationship. 'During the summer, my parents worked during the day and were out of the house, so they were not aware that our relationship had progressed to a sexual relationship.' The relationship ended in December 2000, and Ms Flinders later moved to teach at Churchfields School in Swindon. In 2011, Pupil A was asked by someone he was dating whether the rumours of his relationship with Mr Flinders were true, to which he said yes. Churchfields School was notified and she was suspended and later resigned. Police began an investigation but did not refer the case to the TRA until 2022, when Ms Flinders admitted to the allegations. After the TRA panel found the accusations against Ms Flinders proven, Duncan Tilley, the panel chairman, said: 'The panel noted that whilst the term 'safeguarding' was not widely used back in 2000, there was still a clear expectation for teachers to keep children safe and protect their well-being. 'The panel considered that Miss Flinders' conduct fell significantly short of the standards of behaviour expected of the profession at the time, given the serious nature of her conduct which the panel considered to be a complete abuse of her position of trust to commence a sexual relationship with one of her pupils. 'The panel also noted that despite Pupil A and Miss Flinders stating that the sexual relationship was consensual, the panel considered the potential harmful impact that this relationship could have had on Pupil A's life.' Sarah Buxcey, the decision maker, said on behalf of the Secretary of State: 'Miss Helen Flinders is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or 18 children's home in England. 'Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Miss Helen Flinders shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach.' Ms Flinders, who faces no police action, has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Telegraph
Teacher ‘had sex sessions with pupil while parents were at work'
An art teacher had regular sex sessions with a pupil at his home while his parents were at work, a misconduct panel has heard. Helen Flinders, 55, had a five-month relationship with the teenager between June and December 2000. A Teacher Regulation Agency misconduct panel found Flinders 'seriously breached the teacher-pupil boundary' after the case was referred to them in 2022. Flinders has subsequently been banned from the profession. The panel heard how the teacher went for a drink with 'Pupil A' after sports day at St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon, Wiltshire, in July 2000. She had been an art teacher at the secondary school since 1994. 'Consensual kiss' In her witness statement, Flinders said that after the drink they went to another teacher's house where she asked Pupil A for a kiss goodbye. Flinders said 'he kissed me and it was consensual', adding: 'A consensual sexual relationship began during the summer break of 2000.' The pair met about three or four times at the student's parents' house, the panel was told, before their relationship ended in December of the same year. Pupil A said: 'The first time Helen Flinders and I had sex was in my parents' house. 'She came over and had asked what I wanted to do, and whether I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. 'It therefore progressed into a consensual sexual relationship. 'During the summer, my parents worked during the day and were out of the house, so they were not aware that our relationship had progressed to a sexual [one].' In 2011, the student was asked by an individual he was dating whether there had been any truth to the rumours of his affair with Flinders almost 10 years prior. When he admitted there had been a sexual relationship, his partner informed Flinders' employer – now Churchfields School in Swindon – and she was suspended. Police began an investigation but did not refer the case to the Teacher Regulation Agency until 2022. 'Prohibited from teaching' Duncan Tilley, the panel chairman, highlighted 'a clear expectation' for teachers to 'keep children safe and protect their well-being'. He added: 'The panel considered that Miss Flinders's conduct fell significantly short of the standards of behaviour expected of the profession at the time... [and it was a] complete abuse of her position of trust to commence a sexual relationship with one of her pupils. 'The panel also noted that despite Pupil A and Miss Flinders stating that the sexual relationship was consensual, the panel considered the potential harmful impact that this relationship could have had on Pupil A's life.' Sarah Buxcey, the decision maker, said on behalf of the Secretary of State: 'Miss Helen Flinders is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. 'In view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Miss Helen Flinders shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach.' Flinders has the right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
