Teacher banned 17 years after pupil sex referral

A former teacher who had a sexual relationship with a pupil has been banned from the profession 17 years after his school said it raised concerns.

Matthew Whale, now 50, taught PE at the then Easthampstead Park Community School in Bracknell, Berkshire, between 2001 and 2008, when he resigned after being suspended.

The school said it referred his case to the Department for Education in 2008, but was informed in 2022 it had not been resolved and he could still legally teach.

Last month the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found "no criminal offences were committed" by Mr Whale, but he was still guilty of serious professional misconduct.

The body found Mr Whale told the pupil he loved her, picked her up from school and took her to the cinema, restaurants and theme parks.

The agency's panel found he did not tell the school because he knew it was an "inappropriate" relationship and "would lead to disciplinary proceedings".

Mr Whale briefly led the PE department at the school, now known as King's Academy Easthampstead Park, the TRA said.

Mr Whale told it that "the level of maturity I possessed as an individual at this time was clearly not one capable of managing the responsibility of the situation I had been placed in".

He said that was "by far and away the greatest driving factor in me leaving [teaching] nearly 20 years ago" and that he "will always be genuinely sorry" for "the upset, impact and personal detriment" he caused.

Mr Whale added: "I am also a very different person from the immature individual that encouraged, facilitated and allowed this situation to occur."

The TRA's panel found his relationship with the pupil was "wholly unacceptable" and that banning him from teaching for life was proportionate.

A spokesperson for King's Group Academies, of which King's Academy Easthampstead Park is now a part, said: "This follows a historical matter which pre-dates the school joining the trust.

"The health, safety and wellbeing of our students is paramount, and we condemn any misconduct and inappropriate behaviour.

"We follow strict and robust safeguarding measures and are supportive of the outcomes which reflect the seriousness of the allegations found proved."

The Department for Education was contacted to comment.