DANIEL ROBERTS OF PENRITH PERMANENTLY BANNED FROM TEACHING FOLLOWING INAPPROPRIATE STUDENT RELATIONSHIP

A teacher named Daniel Roberts has been given an indefinite ban from the teaching profession after misconduct involving a student. While serving as the head of music at a school in Penrith, Cumbria, between 2019 and 2021, Roberts engaged in inappropriate communications with a student, exchanging approximately 3,000 pages of personal emails. These emails reportedly discussed intimate topics, including the student taking a bath. Additionally, Roberts provided lifts in his car and took part in social activities with her while she was still enrolled at the school.

A misconduct panel found that their relationship became sexual in June 2022, after the student had left the school. Although there was evidence of serious misconduct in their earlier interactions, the panel was unable to confirm that the relationship was sexually motivated before that date.

During the hearing, Roberts stated that he found the idea of a teacher having a romantic relationship with a pupil 'repulsive.' Nonetheless, the panel criticized him for failing to safeguard the student, noting, 'Mr. Roberts actively encouraged and engaged in inappropriate communication with the pupil.'

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) concluded that his conduct was serious enough to justify a ban until at least January 2030, effectively preventing him from working in any educational role within England.