LIAN LAIDLAW FROM DERBYSHIRE BANNED FOR LIFE AFTER SEXUAL OFFENSES AND SAFEGUARDING FAILURE
Lian Laidlaw, a former educator with ties to Derbyshire, has been permanently prohibited from teaching following a series of serious misconduct allegations and a subsequent criminal conviction.The case was thoroughly examined during a hearing conducted by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which revealed troubling details about Laidlaw’s actions and professional conduct.
Laidlaw, who was previously known by the name Ian Featherstone, aged 44, was employed as a teacher and head of department at a school in Rocester, East Staffordshire, near the Derbyshire border.
His tenure at the school spanned from September 2017 until his dismissal in July 2022.
The disciplinary proceedings were initiated after allegations surfaced that he had disclosed confidential information related to his employment, specifically on July 18, 2022.
During this hearing, it was disclosed that Laidlaw had shared sensitive details with a pupil, which was deemed a breach of professional standards.
The hearing panel was informed that Laidlaw had the opportunity to report concerns about a colleague’s inappropriate relationship with a pupil as early as June 2022.
Given his close relationship with both the colleague and the pupil, and his interactions with them, it was argued that he should have taken action to safeguard the student involved.
Instead, Laidlaw chose to confide in another pupil about the relationship, which further compromised the safeguarding protocols.
Initially, Laidlaw denied any knowledge of the inappropriate relationship between his colleague and the pupil.
However, during the course of disciplinary proceedings, he admitted that he had lied about this matter in July 2022.
The gravity of his misconduct was compounded by his later criminal conviction in November 2022 at Derby Crown Court, where he was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a minor.
Following his conviction, Laidlaw received a sentence that included a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years, along with 55 days of rehabilitation activities, six months of electronic monitoring, 200 hours of unpaid community service, 45 days on a sex offender treatment program, and a decade-long registration on the sex offenders register.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay a surcharge of £156.
The court’s conviction was accepted as conclusive proof of his guilt in the misconduct proceedings.
In light of these findings, Sarah Buxcey, the decision-maker, emphasized the severity of Laidlaw’s misconduct.
She stated, “The findings of misconduct are extremely serious as they include a failure to report a safeguarding concern, dishonest conduct, and an offence involving sexual activity with a child.
This conduct is at the most serious end of the spectrum and breaches the trust placed in him as a teacher.” Consequently, Laidlaw has been banned from teaching indefinitely.
The order explicitly states that he is prohibited from working in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation, or children’s home within England.
Furthermore, he is not permitted to apply for the restoration of his teaching eligibility.
Laidlaw has the right to appeal this decision within 28 days through the King’s Bench Division of the High Court.
Attempts to obtain comments from Abbotsholme School regarding the case have been made, but no statement has been provided at this time.
