Teacher banned for inappropriate texts to pupil

A former private school school teacher has been banned from the profession after sending a sixth form student inappropriate and over-familiar messages.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found James Samson, 46, who taught at Luckley House School in Wokingham, Berkshire, asked the pupil for her number and messaged her outside school hours and during holidays.

The panel's report said WhatsApp messages he sent between November 2023 and May 2024 included: "Shame I couldn't get you back into my cupboard... to find a folder". It was followed by a winking emoji.

The school, which charges over £45,000 a year for boarders, said it "fully cooperated" with the investigation and acted swiftly.

The hearing was told the messages between the pupil and Samson, who was head of geography and a form tutor, ran to 41 pages and included texts on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

There were also examples of Samson sending messages late at night and at the weekend.

The panel heard that the pupil found his messages to be "weird" and "un-teacher-like" but that she was unclear about the motivation behind them.

Samson was dismissed by the school in July 2024 following an investigation.

The TRA panel found his conduct was "highly inappropriate" and fell "significantly short of the standards expected of the profession".

A separate allegation that his conduct was sexually motivated was not proved.

A spokesperson for the school said it had acted swiftly and that "actions taken were guided by the best interests and safeguarding of children".

The prohibition order means Samson cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.

He can apply to have the order set aside from 1 April 2028.