A teacher at a girls’ boarding school in Effingham has been banned from the profession for sexually motivated actions towards pupils. Stephen Atkinson, 48, began teaching at St Teresa’s School in 2004 and was suspended in 2022.
He was found to have touched the waist of a former pupil, asked to kiss them on the lips and kissed them on the cheek, by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). The professional conduct panel found that Mr Atkinson had acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner in relation to two pupils both while they were at the school and after they left.
The panel heard that Mr Atkinson exchanged emails of a personal nature with two pupils while they were still at school. In one he commented on how one pupil looked 'radiant' in their prom photos. Mr Atkinson also arranged to meet the pupils after they left the school.
The report detailed how Mr Atkinson hugged one of these former pupils and touched her and/or near the waist. The report also found that he asked if he could give this former pupil a kiss, and followed up with “no properly, on the lips” or words to that effect. The report also detailed that Mr Atkinson kissed this former pupil on the cheek.
The panel found that Mr Atkinson was responsible for “serious inappropriate and unprofessional sexual communications” with more than one pupil/former pupil, and noted the repetitive nature of his behaviour. The report also noted that Mr Atkinson’s physical contact with the pupil – who he kissed on the cheek – was “of a sexual nature”.
The panel found that "although Mr Atkinson commented on feeling embarrassed by his actions, he did not demonstrate any remorse or understanding into his actions or the impact that this had had or could have on pupils".
Mr Atkinson was suspended from the school after a parent raised concerns about his communication with a former pupil. He has now been banned from teaching in England and he will not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.
Marc Cavey, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, said: “I am particularly mindful of the finding of a teacher engaging in communications with pupils/former pupils that were sexually motivated in this case and the serious negative impact that such a finding is likely to have on the reputation of the profession.”
He added: “In this case, I have placed considerable weight on both the very serious nature of the misconduct found, as well as the lack of evidence that the teacher has developed either insight into or remorse for his actions.”
A spokesperson for St Teresa’s School said: “When informed about this deeply concerning matter, we immediately followed all safeguarding procedures and are very supportive of the outcome.”
