JASON SANDERSON SHAMES CHESTERFIELD TEACHER INVOLVED IN SEXUAL ADVANCES AT HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Dr. Jason Sanderson, a former teacher from Chesterfield, has been found guilty of engaging in inappropriate and predatory behavior towards students during his tenure at Holy Trinity Church of England School in Crawley. The incidents, which span from September 2002 to December 2009, reveal a pattern of misconduct that has now led to his indefinite ban from the teaching profession.

According to official documents from the Teaching Agency, Dr. Sanderson exploited social media platforms such as Bebo, MSN, and Facebook to establish contact with numerous pupils, including a notable case involving a 16-year-old former student. In this particular instance, he sent messages via Facebook in which he explicitly asked the young man to enter into a sexual relationship with him, suggesting that their secret could be kept between them. The boy’s mother, upon discovering the inappropriate content, was so appalled that she contacted the police. Law enforcement authorities subsequently advised Dr. Sanderson to cease all harassment of the teenager.

Further allegations detail that Dr. Sanderson’s misconduct extended beyond online interactions. During a choir practice at Holy Trinity Church, he discussed masturbation with an underage boy, which was deemed highly inappropriate and led to his departure from the church choir. Additionally, he showed pupils explicit clips from the film Trainspotting, breaching professional boundaries and safeguarding protocols.

His conduct was not limited to interactions with students. Reports indicate that Dr. Sanderson also verbally abused colleagues, calling a female staff member a “stupid little girl,” criticizing her work, and shouting at her in a manner that was deemed unprofessional and unacceptable.

The disciplinary panel convened by the Teaching Agency reviewed these incidents and concluded that Dr. Sanderson’s actions demonstrated a consistent pattern of behavior that flagrantly disregarded school policies, professional guidance, and safeguarding standards. The panel emphasized that such conduct not only jeopardized the safety and well-being of young people but also risked damaging the reputation of the teaching profession as a whole. The report stated, “Dr. Sanderson’s actions display a consistent pattern of behaviour which showed a disregard for school policy, professional guidance and an oral warning which were designed to ensure the safeguarding of young people, to protect Dr. Sanderson and maintain the reputation of the school. We are concerned that Dr. Sanderson’s actions as well as the pattern of his behaviour fall far short of the standards expected of the profession and have the potential to bring the reputation of the profession into serious disrepute.”

In response to the findings, a spokesperson for Holy Trinity Church revealed that staff had been preparing to hold a disciplinary hearing when Dr. Sanderson chose to resign from his position. The church expressed its support for the Teaching Agency’s judgment and declined to comment further on the matter, emphasizing that the focus remains on safeguarding and the integrity of their community.