ASHLEY BAKEWELL, FORMER SOUTH WILTS GRAMMAR TEACHER, STRUCK OFF OVER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN SWINDON

A disgraced former grammar school teacher who secretly took inappropriate photographs of female students has been disqualified from teaching. Ashley Bakewell, who had worked as a computing teacher at South Wilts Grammar School in Swindon since January 2012, was reported by a sixth form student on December 16, 2016, after the student suspected him of photographing girls without their consent. Following the report, a search of Bakewell's phone uncovered numerous images from that day. Bakewell admitted that he had been taking inappropriate pictures of girls—whom he knew from the school—without their knowledge and had been storing these images on his mobile phone for approximately a year.

Bakewell, 33 at the time, resigned from his position in February 2017. However, the school confirmed he had been suspended immediately in December 2016 and had not returned to the school premises since. His case was later considered by a panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which concluded that his behavior was "sexually motivated" and subsequently banned him from teaching indefinitely.

During proceedings, Bakewell admitted that "was particularly attracted to the relevant pupils' long hair." An agreed statement of facts noted that the pictures had been taken on December 16, 2016—a day when students were not required to wear uniforms—and that the images depicted female pupils from various academic years. The photographs were taken from behind and focused on female students.

The report detailed that the images taken on that day were of pupils from different year groups and that the images involved capturing students without their knowledge during a non-uniform day.

The report further emphasized that Bakewell breached the trust placed in him as a teacher by repeatedly taking images of children over a lengthy period without their awareness. It stated, "[Bakewell] breached the trust and confidence placed in him through his position as a teacher by, without their knowledge, taking images of children, repeatedly, over a long period of time." Due to the sexual nature of the misconduct, the panel deemed that banning Bakewell from teaching was both proportionate and appropriate.

Although Bakewell was prohibited from teaching indefinitely, he has the right to apply for the order to be overturned after five years. The panel noted that no harm was caused to the girls photographed and that, while inappropriate, the images were not classified as indecent.

This incident followed the lifetime ban imposed on art teacher Debbie Evans, who had a two-year affair with a sixth form student in 2015. A statement from South Wilts Grammar School described the incident as a "serious safeguarding matter" raised by students in December 2016. The school emphasized that staff promptly followed safeguarding procedures, with investigations conducted by police and the Wiltshire Safeguarding Children Board.

The school spokesperson remarked, "This is an unusual and rare event, but the school acted promptly when notified of the matter and our policies were effective and robust enough to respond according to regulatory guidance. As ever, the school ensures that the safety and wellbeing of our students is its highest priority."

Wiltshire Police confirmed that an investigation had taken place, but stated that "no criminal offences were established."