Locations
Saint Austell, Cornwall, PL25
Description
A teacher working at a secondary school in Cornwall has been barred from the classroom for life after sexting with young pupils and admitting unacceptable professional conduct. Terry Parsloe, a supply teacher at Poltair School in St Austell, admitted to sharing the sexual texts with kids he knew were aged under 16.
He will never be allowed to teach again in England after he engaged in sexually motivated communications online with at least one pupil under the age of 16 and "showing neither insight or remorse about his action". The 47-year-old was barred from teaching by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) following a hearing on July 10, which heard he admitted to "unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute".
The panel heard that, while employed by supply agency Teaching Personnel between November 27, 2020, and January 18, 2021, he engaged in inappropriate communication online with pupils who informed him that they were under the age of 16 and his conduct was sexually motivated.
The panel's report revealed that on January 19, 2021, the police searched at Mr Parsloe’s home and he attended a voluntary police interview. A second voluntary police interview took place on October 4, 2021. However on July 15 last year, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that no further action would be taken against Mr Parsloe. That means no criminal charges were brought against him.
The panel found that after Mr Parsloe's phone and other electronic devices were searched by police it became clear that he had known full well that the people he had contacted were under the age of 16 but he continued to have a sexual conversation with them. In one of the message he referred to "looking down a female's top".
David Oatley, from the TRA, who compiled the report into Mr Parsloe's actions and barred him from the teaching profession for life, said: "The panel examined the nature of Mr Parsloe’s communications and the very nature of them was sexual. The panel has seen the report to the Crown Prosecutor which summarises comments made by Mr Parsloe when the police attended his house. Given Mr Parsloe’s admission and the explicit content of the messages, the panel considered that it was more likely than not that Mr Parsloe’s conduct was in pursuit of sexual gratification."
Mr Oatley said the panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Parsloe involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards and that his conduct "fell significantly short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher" and amounted to "serious misconduct".
The report adds: "The panel took into account the way the teaching profession is viewed by others, the responsibilities and duties of teachers in relation to the safeguarding and welfare of pupils and considered the influence that teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community. The panel also took account of the uniquely influential role that teachers can hold in pupils’ lives and the fact that pupils must be able to view teachers as role models in the way that they behave."
It added: "Members of the teaching profession must maintain an exemplary level of integrity and ethical standards at all times. The panel considered that Mr Parsloe’s online behaviour seriously contravened his safeguarding obligations."
Compounding its findings, the panel found that Mr Parsloe's action were "calculated and motivated". It added: "Mr Parsloe has not provided any statements attesting to his character or ability as a teacher. Mr Parsloe has referred to the situation having caused him stress and anxiety but has expressed no remorse, nor any insight as to the consequences for a child who received messages of the nature Mr Parsloe sent."
As a result of his action, the TRA found that all of the allegations were proven and found that those proven facts amount to "unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute".
The TRA made a recommendation to the secretary of state for education that Mr Parsloe should be the subject of a prohibition order, with no provision for a review period. It means he is now barred from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. In addition, he will never be allowed to apply to see his eligibility to teach restored.
Mr Parsloe has a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days from the date he is given notice of the order.