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teachers who have relationships with 6th form students should not be prosicuted...

43 replies

wannaBe · 05/10/2008 21:42

... I heard on 5 live just now.

Discuss...

OP posts:
FAQ · 05/10/2008 21:45

well my BF from school is now very happily married to one of the houseparents that worked in the boarding house when she was in the 6th form - been married about 7yrs now I think - and are currently expecting their first child.....although I think they waited until just after she left school before starting a relationship.

katz · 05/10/2008 21:48

i think it very much depends on the age of the teacher and the age of the sixth former. a sixth former can be over 18 and a teacher as young as 22/23. its not black and white

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 05/10/2008 21:50

I dont know if this is similar but my bestfriend married her youth leader from her church. She had to leave the church youth group before her church would allow them to have a relationship. Even though she was really only there to help with the younger members. She was 17 when their relationship started. I think he was about 22/23.

I think ity would depend entirely upon the situation. Once at 6th form you are an adult but teachers do hold a position of trust that could be used in a sinister way. I think each case should be judged individually.

S1ur · 05/10/2008 21:52

Prosecuted for what?
A 17 year old and a 21 year old would not usually attract prosecution.

Disciplinary action/job loss and so on might be a consequence.
But I don;t think there would be a legal element.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 05/10/2008 21:57

I don't think anyone should be prosecuted for having a relationship with someone of 18, which many sixth-formers will be. For 16, 17 year olds - tricky area. I think as a teacher you have a moral responsibility not to get involved in a relationship with a pupil, but as for a legal responsibility, I just don't know.
So I will hoist myself up on the fence, as usual.

Grumpalina · 05/10/2008 21:58

Slur: It is a criminal offence as follows:

Abuse Of A Position Of Trust
It is a crime for someone 18 or over to have sexual intercourse, or have any kind of sexual relationship, with a person under 18 if he or she is in a position of trust in relation to that person.

To be in a position of trust is to be responsible for a person's care and welfare. This includes teachers, and people who work in residential homes. It also includes people adults in the scouts, cadets, or the Church.

saint2shoes · 05/10/2008 22:01

they should be imo. my ds is 16 and at 6th form college. I expect the teachers/tutors, to know how to behave.

Grumpalina · 05/10/2008 22:07

Full definitions of offences in sections 16,17,18 and 19 of Sexual offences Act 2003

morocco · 05/10/2008 22:09

yes they should be prosecuted, and they should be 'struck off' as well imo

solidgoldskullonastick · 05/10/2008 22:09

It is a little bit dodgy because of the abuse of trust (which is really more of a risk of abuse of power - the teacher has, or is supposed to have, authority over the pupil).
This is not to say that an attraction can't be mutual and a relationship happy and consensual, but really if they reckon they are made for each other then they should be able to wait until the pupil leaves school or the teacher should get another job so they meet each other on more equal terms.

S1ur · 05/10/2008 22:10

That is interesting Grump thank you.

I also looked for myself and found this

combustiblelemon · 05/10/2008 22:14

I wish that they prosecuted more for this- it is just an option. It is a totally unequal relationship and an abuse of power by te teacher.

JacobsPrincessOfDarkness · 05/10/2008 22:18

I met my DH at church. He was a teacher (newly qualified, 21) and I was upper 6th (17). Fortuntly we were at seperate schools, but we still had to keep our relationship quiet until I'd left school.
We married4 yeraers laterand now we've beem together12 years and have 2 wonderful sons. Nit all teachers are after a quick "leg over" with a sixth-former

sorry about crap typing - BFing ds2!

AbbeyA · 05/10/2008 22:18

I think that it is OK after they have left school. I know of several cases where a teacher has married a former pupil, after all they may only be 3years older. It wouldn't be appropriate while they were still a pupil.

wannaBe · 05/10/2008 22:28

JacobsPrincessOfDarkness it's not illegal to have a relationship with a pupil in a different school though, because you are not that teacher's pupil.

See for me this has more ramifications than just the abuce of trust issue. What about the other students in the class? If the teacher is shagging one student, then surely that student is going to get preferencial treatment over the rest? When you are in a position of trust it is about far more than just the one person you are sleeping with imo.

OP posts:
luckylady74 · 05/10/2008 22:37

I know what you mean about 17 yr old and 21 yr old, but the reality I know of is quite different. My mentor on teacher training was 38 and her live in boyfriend was 18( he had been in her 6th form class the year before). The art teacher at the same school was married with kids to a former pupil only 10 years her junior. The first school I got a job at had a technology teacher 18 yrs older than his 19 yr old former pupil girlfriend.
It may not be illegal, but it's hardly moral behaviour is it?

StewieGriffinsMom · 05/10/2008 23:25

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Message withdrawn

Tortington · 05/10/2008 23:27

if its over 16 its legal - but not ethical in any way. I do think that the LA or employer should have the right to terminate employment

i am not quite sure how they could be prosecuted post 16 yo

unknownrebelbang · 05/10/2008 23:37

It's part of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

LittlePushka · 05/10/2008 23:56

Teachers should not have relationships with their school or sixth form pupils. It's just wrong - there is a power imbalance and it is predatory IMO. I have experience of an inappropriately full on teacher and 16-18 is no age to be able to deal with this.

If you think it is ok, could you imagine if it were your child, how would you feel nd bear in mind that these relationships can be same sex relationships (which in any other environment are fine by me, before anyone says I am phobic!)

StewieGriffinsMom · 06/10/2008 08:14

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RubberDuck · 06/10/2008 08:30

Now, I think it should be illegal, should be prosecuted...

... but I don't think it should be on the sexual offenders list. It just makes the list meaningless and makes tracking serious offenders so much harder as the resources aren't there.

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witchandchips · 06/10/2008 08:52

There is a big difference (i think) between a relationship between a 16 year old and her form teacher and that of an 18 year old with a teacher that is not taught by. Think the law as it stands (illegal for under 18 is there is an abuse of trust) is about right

on the university front, i remember an AUT (AUT used to be the union representing university lecherers (sic)) when there was a motion on some of these issues. Bearded ugly man after bearded ugly man got up and said that they would have never met and married their current partner if such relationships were banned!

StewieGriffinsMom · 06/10/2008 13:05

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Rose100 · 06/10/2008 13:36

The key age legally is 17. Many upper sixth formers are 17, as are first year undergraduates.

There is a very good reason for this law- the power imbalance and the predatory angle. An improper relationship at this age can adversely affect someone's life forever.

Teachers in particular are in a very powerful position of trust and authority and can easily abuse crushes from pupils.

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