Teacher lied about relationship with ex-pupil

A former special educational needs co-ordinator at a school who had a sexual relationship with a former pupil has been banned from teaching following a professional conduct hearing.

Joseph Marriott, who worked at Eckington School in Derbyshire, resigned in September 2024 following a disciplinary meeting, after the school was informed about the relationship with the ex-student.

A report, published following a Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) panel hearing, said the pupil - named as Person A - asked for Marriott's phone number on her last day at school, which he provided.

The panel found Marriott was "dishonest" during the disciplinary investigation meeting about when their relationship started.

According to the TRA, in July 2024 the school received an anonymous telephone call, alleging Person A was in a relationship with Marriott, and that it started while she was still at the school.

It said the school began an investigation and contacted police.

The report said Marriott was interviewed under caution on 7 July 2024, and the police decided no further action would be taken.

A disciplinary investigation meeting subsequently took place on 19 September 2024.

Marriott later told the panel by lying at this meeting about when and how the relationship had started, he hoped the investigation would "stop".

"The panel noted that it was open for Mr Marriott to say that due to the police concluding that no crime had been committed, that the school should not be concerned with the relationship," the report said.

"However, he chose not to do so and instead provided a false version of events.

"The panel therefore found that Mr Marriott knew he was being dishonest, having given an accurate version of events to the police in July 2024 and then fabricating a version of events to tell during the disciplinary investigation meeting."

In its findings the TRA panel said Marriot accepted he had entered into a romantic relationship with Person A and that he believed she was at that time classed as a "former student".

It added "there was no evidence" that Marriott had "abused any trust, knowledge or influence gained" through his position as a teacher in order to "advance a romantic or sexual relationship with Person A".

The panel did, however, note that Marriott breached the school's code of conduct when he handed over his mobile phone number to Person A after her final exam.

It added this was conduct that could "potentially damage the public's perception of a teacher" given it "blurred professional boundaries".

The panel noted Marriott had "sought to conceal his relationship" with Person A, demonstrating that he recognised his actions "could have a negative impact on the public's perception of him as a teacher", which brought the profession into disrepute.

The panel added members of the public would "likely have a negative view of a relationship", which commenced shortly after Person A left school.

The panel found Marriott's dishonesty in the school's investigation process "could potentially damage the public's perception of a teacher, therefore bringing the profession into disrepute".

Marriott was handed a prohibition order, banning him from the profession, with the order able to be reviewed within two years.

A spokesperson from the Chorus Education Trust, which runs the school, said: "The safety and wellbeing of our students is of the utmost priority.

"In this case, when concerns were raised, we immediately suspended the member of staff and on concluding our own investigations, we referred this matter to the TRA in line with standard processes.

"Where safeguarding concerns relating to staff are raised, we treat them extremely seriously and act quickly, robustly and appropriately to ensure the safety of our students."

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