Disgusted by school’s response to complaint about pervy teacher - Update

[SophEll]

I have debated whether to post this update but I promised I would in the previous thread (www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5325717-disgusted-by-schools-response-to-complaint-about-pervy-teacher) and I’m someone who keeps their word.

I have had an acknowledgment of my email to the Chair of Governors who assures me they will ensure my previous correspondence with the school will be personally overseen by the Headteacher as opposed to the senior member of staff who replied previously.

The Governor has understandably explained that the school cannot share the details of any internal disciplinary action, but has assured me the head teacher will provide me with a further response in due course, and asked me to provide my contact number. I’ve also confirmed that should it be required, my friend would be happy to provide her account of the evening’s events.

This proves that the school previously dismissing this without investigation was inappropriate, so I must say I’m feeling rather smug right now at this vindication. Given their prompt response, the Governor clearly recognises the reputational impact something like this could have on the school.

Thanks to all those who provided suggestions on how best to proceed (including those who said I should have laughed it off, been flattered etc) - I’ll endeavour to provide a further update once the headteacher concludes their investigation. An impressively prompt response by the Chair - the joys of retirement I guess!

If only they could be locked away in the staff room at the end of the day where they can't speak to anyone or do anything that isn't teaching.

We get parents saying they will "go to the papers" all the time.
They rarely do and if they actually do it the "papers" aren't interested or run a story which is rarely complimentary to the complainant and the school comment is just "we have followed procedure, confidential etc etc etc"

A night out in a nightclub does not come into it. All teachers are entitled to a life and one in appropriate comment does not warrant a warning or a disciplinary. If they did then the teacher could take legal action and win. Teachers have rights as well. It's the circumstances you go to nightclub and chances are you may get chatted up or chat someone up. If people don't want to hear sleazy chat lines then don't go to a nightclub.

Speaking to someone without consent is not comparable to rape.

At the very least a sensible head will meet with the man in question, explain the complaint and suggest he apologises for it.

Yes the HT should meet with the man in question, and explain that a complaint has been made and what is his side of the story. This should be formally and with someone present with the man.

A HT would never suggest that a teacher apologises for something that they cannot prove that the teacher did, they don't have the power and it could land the head in all sorts of trouble.

If this school is "governed" by governers on this thread, I hope OP stands their ground and sytematically goes through the process until they get what they need to feel redress has beem met.

The OP will never find out exact what has been done or what sanctions (if any) have been put in place as this would break quite a few laws.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards

These standards set the minimum requirements for teachers’ practice and conduct.

Part 2 Personal and Professional Conduct

A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and
professional conduct. The following statements define the behaviour and attitudes which
set the required standard for conduct throughout a teacher’s career.
• Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of
ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by:
• treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect,
and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s
professional position
• having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance
with statutory provisions
• showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others
• not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule
of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with
different faiths and beliefs
• ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit
pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
• Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and
practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their
own attendance and punctuality.
• Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory
frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

So....they can't go round an ex's house and smash up their car. They can't get handsy with a TA and think it's OK, they can't get verbally offensive with customer services at Tesco's, they can't have an OnlyFans.

All of which have been brought to the TRA either because of the seriousness, because they were brought to the attention of the police, or were reported by colleages or members of the public.

Whether or not the governing body or leadership team "agree" or "back" the teacher is irrelevant (sorry to...oh, not sorry to say to the inflated egos of "I AM a school governor, don'tcha know...)

I haven't seen anyone defend the teacher.

What I have seen is many people trying to explain to the OP what will happen.

The CPS wouldn't even look at it I don't think you do.

Completely agree. I really hope this is actually a load of misogynistic pricks trolling MN for a laugh- some of the comments posted towards the OP have been absolutely vile.

A Teacher who was disciplined over this would probably take the school to the bloody cleaners while being supported by his Union.
A school will not risk that.
The only trouble OP could cause is at most a bit of bad publicity.

Not if they go to the Regulatory Agency, they won't not find out.

Ahh! Too many negatives!

I mean, they will find out, if they bring the case to the TRA.

Interesting, it was drummed into me a lot during my early years. But we talked a lot about the teacher standards at that time.

The child isn’t relevant in this, the parents evening was just where he saw OP, there is nothing to suggest his fantasy involved the child in any way whatsoever, and a teacher is allowed to have thoughts.

What does ‘thinking about her sexually in front of her child’ mean? As if children can read minds!? Jesus the amount of ridiculous hyperbole on here makes me laugh 🤣. The thought police are out!

He shouldn’t have told OP, no, and nobody is saying what he did was okay, but the reaction is disproportionate.

The thought of him teaching your child makes you want to vomit? Get a grip of yourself.

None of the teacher standards reference exchanges with adults in adult settings when the adult doesn’t have a child at your school.

Eugh.. you’re one of those! Report to the local paper? Really? Sleazy yes, absolutely nothing to do with his job seeing as your children don’t even attend anymore. Have you nothing better to do with your time?

That would depend on whether the TRA would investigate it and take if further.
Even then this probably wouldn't get much further than "No further action required"
The OP would also have to prove that she went through all of the possible ways of bringing the complaint to the school and that the school had not followed its policies.

Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of
ethics and behaviour, within and outside school...

...showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others
• not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule
of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with
different faiths and beliefs..."

Yeah ok, if I saw a GP out and about who said 'I always imagined bending you over the table' I'd probably feel like making a complaint

I don't see why people are falling over themselves to say what this teacher has said is ok.

It was at a school meeting with children present, during which teacher was updating OP about her DC’s progress.

Whether or not the governing body or leadership team "agree" or "back" the teacher is irrelevant (sorry to...oh, not sorry to say to the inflated egos of "I AM a school governor, don'tcha know...)

What you fail to realise is that those of us with actual knowledge of what Governors do/don't do etc are just trying to explain what is likely to happen.
As for ego, its a difficult, time consuming voluntary position with little thanks. If I wanted to massage my ego I imagine there are easier ways.

I am guessing you either lost a Parent Governor Election or didn't get a response you liked after a complaint to school.

Professional conduct outside school, high standards of behaviour, respect for the rights of others, not undermining fundamental British values including...mutual respect.

Ha! wrong...

Given that the OP also clarified that he wanted her to sit on his face, the OP needs to get her story straight before going any further with this,.

"British values" is about combating extremism, not being a perv.

He sounds like an arse but I can't say I've ever been offended enough by anyone to actively try to destroy their livelihood in the way OP clearly wants to.

Nobody is.