KEITH ELLEN BANNED FROM TEACHING IN HARROW AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CONVICTION

In October of the previous year, Keith Ellen, aged 69, faced a conviction that has effectively ended his career in education. The former teacher, who was employed at Canons High School in Harrow during the time of the offences, was found guilty of committing four separate acts of indecent assault against a girl aged 14 and 15 between the years 1977 and 1979.

His criminal case was heard at Harrow Crown Court, where he received a 12-month jail sentence, which was suspended for 18 months. In addition to this, Ellen was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service, pay a victim surcharge of £100, and cover legal costs amounting to £1,000. Furthermore, he was issued a ten-year sex offences prevention notice, restricting his future contact with minors.

The disciplinary action against Ellen was taken on the recommendation of the National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), following a detailed investigation into his conduct. The panel concluded that Ellen’s behaviour constituted “sexualised behaviour towards a child,” which led to the decision to ban him from the teaching profession permanently. This ban was imposed on behalf of the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan.

The NCTL disciplinary panel’s findings revealed that Ellen admitted to kissing a 14-year-old pupil and physically touching her. The panel noted that Ellen claimed these actions were “completely consensual,” but acknowledged that, under the law, the girl was not legally capable of giving consent due to her age. The panel emphasized the importance of protecting pupils from such misconduct, highlighting the serious nature of Ellen’s actions.

In their report, the panel stated that Ellen’s conduct was “repeated and deliberate,” and that there was no evidence to suggest he was acting under duress. They further concluded that his behaviour was sexually motivated towards the pupil. Despite the passage of time, the panel expressed concern that Ellen has not recognized the emotional and moral implications of his actions, instead maintaining that the girl consented. This failure to acknowledge the breach of trust and the potential harm to the pupil’s wellbeing was a significant factor in their decision.

Paul Heathcote, an official from the NCTL, confirmed that the decision to impose a permanent ban was made in the best interest of public safety and the protection of pupils. He stated, “The panel considers that Mr Ellen’s behaviour amounts to serious sexual misconduct and have recommended that the order should be without provision for Mr Ellen to apply to have it set aside. I agree with their recommendation.”

Keith Ellen retains the right to appeal this decision through the High Court, but as it stands, he is permanently barred from working in the education sector within the UK, specifically in Harrow, where his misconduct took place.