Teacher said pupil had 'sexiest body', panel finds

A teacher found to have told one pupil they had the "hottest, sexiest body" and sent explicit pictures and gifts to others has been struck off.

Ian Shilling was head of music at Newlands Girls' School in Maidenhead between September 2012 and October 2020.

A panel found he engaged in a "calculated pattern of behaviour" as he sought to foster inappropriate relationships in what was a "clear abuse" of his position.

In a statement, the school said it was "reassured by the resolution of this case and will continue to uphold the most rigorous safeguarding standards."

A pupil said Shilling wrote that she had a "stunningly perfect face and the hottest, sexiest body in the world" and he admitted using "emotive language" with some girls.

In a written statement, the 41-year-old said he "regrettably chose to use overly positive language to describe [pupils'] looks and body and did use some inappropriate language".

Multiple pupils said they received explicit pictures from Shilling and gave statements to police.

He admitted he had sent pictures and said he accepted doing so was "completely wrong" at the time, deleted them from a chat and apologised.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel heard he gave pupils gifts including condoms and that he sent a Valentine's Day card to a pupil containing an inappropriate message.

A panel found his behaviour "was not a momentary lapse of judgement but was a calculated course of action in pursuit of sexual gratification".

In a written statement, which he submitted to the TRA in 2023, Shilling said he was "deeply apologetic and upset for any hurt, anxiety or stress" caused.

But the TRA's panel said his apology was "self-serving" and did not recognise the severity of his misconduct.

In a statement, the school's spokesperson said: "The safety of our students is our highest priority.

"As soon as safeguarding concerns were raised about a member of teaching staff, we acted immediately by suspending the individual and raising a report to the TRA.

"We are reassured by the resolution of this case and will continue to uphold the most rigorous safeguarding standards."