Latest news with #SimonGraves
BBC News
08-05-2025
- BBC News
Ex-teacher banned after teaching panel finds 'sexual misconduct'
A former deputy head teacher has been banned indefinitely after a disciplinary panel found his behaviour towards three pupils amounted to "sexual misconduct". Simon Graves, who worked at Carlton le Willows Academy in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, also displayed serious sexually-motivated behaviour towards a colleague, a panel heard. A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) disciplinary panel found the 52-year-old, who was the school's safeguarding lead, "failed to adhere to professional boundaries".The decision to ban him from the profession was approved on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education. Warning: Contains details some readers may find distressing The panel said Mr Graves was arrested in December 2018 following allegations of sexual assault, but was found not guilty after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court in July panel heard he had been appointed deputy head teacher "with designated safeguarding lead and pastoral responsibilities" and had set up a girls football team after joining the found he had repeated inappropriate contact with one pupil between 2010 and 2014, which included being alone with her in his car and touching or rubbing her leg "on one or more occasions".Another student said she was in Mr Graves' office when he "placed his hands either side of her shoulders and kissed [her] on the lips".He denied kissing the student, but the panel said it "was not convinced that [his] account of the minimal contact with [her] was likely", and also found he kissed her when visiting her home when her parents were not present. The panel also found he had touched the thigh of another student when she was in his his former colleague, the hearing found Mr Graves forcibly kissed her when she had come to his office to apologise for being drunk at a social event the previous night, with the woman saying he would try to kiss her in empty corridors at the also invited her into his office after school and "locked the door and told her to sit down" before performing a sex his witness statement, Mr Graves said he and the colleague "flirted and we got on well", but denied kissing her on school premises and "was adamant" he did not perform a sex act. The panel found the allegations proven, and also found Mr Graves harassed the woman by waiting by her car after school and had turned up at her home that his conduct "could potentially damage the public's perception of a teacher", the panel recommended a ban from teaching "without provisions for a review period".It said: "Whilst there is evidence that Mr Graves had ability as an educator, the panel considered that the adverse public interest considerations above outweigh any interest in retaining Mr Graves in the profession, since his behaviour fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher, and he sought to exploit his position of trust."
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Former deputy headteacher banned from the classroom for lewd act and kissing ‘vulnerable' schoolgirls
A former deputy headteacher has been banned from the classroom for life after performing a lewd act in front of a junior staff member and kissing 'vulnerable' schoolgirls in his office. Simon Graves, 52, worked at Carlton le Willows Academy, Nottingham, between 2009 and 2014, where he carried out the 'inappropriate' behaviour towards three pupils and a colleague. In one case, Mr Graves, who worked as the school's safeguarding lead, locked the junior staff member in his office and masturbated in front of her. The staff member, who was not named, was left 'shocked' and 'confused' over the incident, a Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel found. He also texted a 17-year-old pupil asking her to sit on his office desk so he could have sex with her, as well as telling her he would pay for a taxi to take her to his home. At one point, he visited the girl at her home while her parents were out and kissed her on the lips while rubbing her back as she was upset and crying. The panel heard that Mr Graves set up the school's girls football team and would drive pupils back home after matches and training. At times, he would touch their thighs in his car. He also 'placed his hands either side' of a different schoolgirl's shoulders and 'kissed her on the lips' while she was alone picking up football kit for a game. At another point, he told a schoolgirl who had come to his office crying and upset she was 'hormonal', before stroking her thigh 'higher than anyone should put their hands'. The panel's decision maker David Oatley said of his ban: 'The panel was of the view that prohibition was both proportionate and appropriate. It decided the public interest outweighed the interests of Mr Graves. 'The sexual motivation and sexual nature of some of the allegations and also taking advantage of vulnerable students who were experiencing loss or upset was a significant factor in forming that opinion.' He added: 'Mr Graves is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. 'Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Graves shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.'
Evening Standard
28-04-2025
- Evening Standard
One of Europe's strongest floating cranes to recover Mike Lynch's sunken yacht
Simon Graves, a principal investigator for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) told an inquest hearing into the deaths of the four British nationals who were on board that the agency will be at the scene when the vessel is brought to shore.
