DAVID BLIGHT SHOCKS PRUDHOE WITH SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

A former educator from Northumberland, specifically associated with Prudhoe Community High School, has been permanently barred from the teaching profession following serious allegations of misconduct. The individual in question, David Blight, was found to have engaged in inappropriate and exploitative behavior involving a vulnerable former pupil, identified only as Pupil A.

Details of the case reveal that Mr. Blight maintained a sexual relationship with Pupil A after she had reached adulthood. This relationship was not only intimate but also involved multiple sexual encounters, including one that took place inside a vehicle parked in a secluded woodland area. The misconduct hearing uncovered that Mr. Blight did not disclose his relationship with Pupil A when she applied for work experience at Prudhoe Community High School, where he was employed. However, it was determined that he believed the work experience was not going to occur, and therefore, he did not act dishonestly in this context.

In addition to the sexual misconduct, Mr. Blight was found to have shared sexual photographs with Pupil A, further compounding the severity of his actions. The investigation also revealed that he offered her morphine on three separate occasions, claiming that his offers were made in a joking manner. These actions raised serious concerns about his judgment and professionalism, especially considering the vulnerability of the individual involved.

During the misconduct hearing, it was emphasized that Mr. Blight, who previously served as head of sixth form, breached professional standards by engaging in exploitative behavior and lacking integrity. The panel noted that there was no explicit school policy regulating relationships between teachers and former pupils, but the nature of his conduct was deemed highly inappropriate and unethical. Despite expressing remorse and regret for his actions and their impact on his family and career, Mr. Blight demonstrated a lack of understanding of Pupil A’s vulnerabilities and the potential harm caused.

The panel concluded that his behavior fell significantly below the expected standards of conduct for educators, particularly because it involved sexual activity in a public setting and actions that compromised his integrity. As a consequence, Mr. Blight was issued a prohibition order, which bans him from teaching indefinitely. He has the option to apply for the ban to be lifted starting from April 2027, but for now, he remains disqualified from the profession due to the serious nature of his misconduct.