Unknown Teacher

The Secretary of State does not make these decisions himself. They are made by a senior official on the recommendation of an independent panel.

Teacher reference number:

0256138

Teacher's date of birth:

14 May 1980

Date of professional conduct panel:

19 August 2019

Outcome type:

Prohibition order

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with The Teacher's’ Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012, a professional conduct panel was convened to consider the case of Mr Chris Naylor, of Cheshire, North West England.

The proceedings were held at 5 Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry, CV1 2WT at 9.30am on date 19 August 2019.

Teacher misconduct

Ground Floor, South

Cheylesmore House

5 Quinton RoadCoventryCV1 2WT

Email TRA.Casework@education.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7593 5393

Information about regulating the teaching profession and the process for dealing with serious teacher misconduct.

Mr Chris Naylor: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education August 2019 2 Contents 45T45T45TA.45T45T45T 45T45T45TIntroduction45T45T45T 3 45T45T45TB.45T45T45T 45T45T45TAllegations45T45T45T 4 45T45T45TC.45T45T45T 45T45T45TSummary of evidence45T45T45T 4 45T45T45TDocuments45T45T45T 4 45T45T45TStatement of agreed facts45T45T45T 5 45T45T45TD.45T45T45T 45T45T45TDecision and reasons45T45T45T 5 45T45T45TPanel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State45T45T45T 9 45T45T45TDecision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State45T45T45T 12 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Chris Naylor Teacher ref number: 0256138 Teacher date of birth: 14 May 1980 TRA reference: 17609 Date of determination: 19 August 2019 Former employer: Congleton High School, Congleton, Cheshire A. Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 19 August 2019 at Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry, CV1 2WT, to consider the case of Mr Chris Naylor The panel members were Ms Kathy Thompson (former teacher panellist), Cllr Gail Goodman (teacher panellist) and Mr Rob Allan (lay panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mr James Danks of Blake Morgan LLP. In advance of the meeting, after taking into consideration the public interest and the interests of justice, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Chris Naylor that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Mr Naylor provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer, Mr Naylor or his representative. The meeting took place in private, save for the announcement of the panel’s decision, which was announced in public and recorded. 4 B. Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the Notice of Meeting dated 5 July 2019. It was alleged that Mr Chris Naylor was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute in that: 1. He engaged in inappropriate and/or unprofessional behaviour on or around 29PPP th PPP June 2018, towards one or more pupils including by: a) Consuming alcohol whilst setting up for and/or attending and/or supervising the Year 11 prom; b) Engaging in inappropriate physical contact with one or more pupils, including by: i. hugging them; ii. holding their arms and/or wrists; iii. kissing them on the head and/or forehead and/or cheek; iv. dancing closely with them. 2. During an investigation into his conduct in or around July and/or August 2018, he indicated that he would release photographs of other members of staff on social media, which he suggested would tarnish the school's reputation, unless the school agreed to the terms of his offer to leave their employ. 3. His conduct as set out at allegation 2 demonstrated a lack of integrity. In the Signed Statement of Agreed Facts, Mr Naylor unequivocally admitted the facts of the allegations and that these amounted to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. C. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the meeting, the panel received a bundle of documents, which included: Section 1: Chronology – pages 2 to 2 Section 2: Notice of Referral, Response and Notice of Meeting – pages 5 to 12b 5 Section 3: Statement of Agreed Facts and Presenting Officer Representations – pages 14 to 19 Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency documents – pages 21 to 177 Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 179 to 208 The panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents in advance of the meeting. Statement of agreed facts The panel considered a statement of agreed facts, which was signed by Mr Naylor and dated 18 April 2019. D. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows: The panel carefully considered the case and reached a decision. The panel confirmed that it had read all of the documents provided in the bundle in advance of the meeting. In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Chris Naylor for the allegations to be considered without a hearing. The panel had the ability to direct that the case be considered at a hearing if required in the interests of justice or in the public interest. The panel did not determine that such a direction was necessary or appropriate in this case. Mr Naylor had been employed at Congleton High School ('the School') since April 2006 as a Deputy Curriculum Team Leader of Physical Education and Guidance Team Leader for Year 11. On 29 June 2018, a Year 11 Prom was held at Cranage Hall, at which Mr Naylor attended as a supervising member of staff. Before and during the event, Mr Naylor was witnessed drinking alcohol, dancing inappropriately behind a pupil, kissing pupils on the cheek, placing his hands on the waists of pupils and hugging others. Following the Prom, an internal investigation was undertaken during which Mr Naylor stated to investigators that he had photographs of other members of staff drinking alcohol during the event. He said that he was willing not to publicise these photographs on social media in exchange for a settlement agreement amounting to nine-months' salary. 6 The School rejected this offer and Mr Naylor submitted his resignation on 31 PPP st PPP August 2018. Findings of fact The findings of fact were as follows: The panel found the following particulars of the allegations against you proved, for these reasons: 1. You engaged in inappropriate and/or unprofessional behaviour on or around 29PPP th PPP June 2018, towards one or more pupils including by: a) Consuming alcohol whilst setting up for and/or attending and/or supervising the Year 11 prom The panel noted the Signed Statement of Agreed Facts, in which Mr Naylor unequivocally admitted the facts of this allegation. The panel also considered Mr Naylor's undated Response to the Statement of Agreed Facts ('the Response') in which he accepted drinking alcohol during the setting-up of the Prom and that, having not eaten a proper meal for some time, the alcohol had had a disproportionate effect on him. For the reasons given, the panel found this allegation proved. b) Engaging in inappropriate physical contact with one or more pupils, including by: i. hugging them; ii. holding their arms and/or wrists; iii. kissing them on the head and/or forehead and/or cheek; iv. dancing closely with them. The panel noted the Signed Statement of Agreed Facts, in which Mr Naylor unequivocally admitted the facts of the particulars of this allegation. In Mr Naylor's Response, he explained that he had 'let his guard down' due to his alcohol consumption and had engaged in behaviour that he agreed was 'unacceptable'. Nevertheless, the panel did not consider being in an intoxicated state to be a defence to this type of conduct. 7 For these reasons, the panel found this allegation, and each sub-particular, proved. 2. During an investigation into your conduct in or around July and/or August 2018, you indicated that you would release photographs of other members of staff on social media, which you suggested would tarnish the school's reputation, unless the school agreed to the terms of your offer to leave their employ. The panel noted the Signed Statement of Agreed Facts, in which Mr Naylor unequivocally admitted the facts of this allegation. The panel also had sight of correspondence sent from the School to Mr Naylor dated 25 August 2018, which was sent to him following an investigation meeting the day before. This correspondence sets out the offer that Mr Naylor made to the School during the meeting, which it considered to be a 'threat'. Email exchanges between Mr Naylor and other employees of the School regarding a settlement figure did not include any assertion by Mr Naylor that he had not made such an offer. For the reasons above, the panel found this allegation proved. 3. Your conduct as set out at allegation 2 demonstrated a lack of integrity. The panel noted the Signed Statement of Agreed Facts, in which Mr Naylor unequivocally admitted this allegation. The panel expects teachers to co-operate with such investigations in an appropriate manner so that the proceedings are transparent, and a fair decision be reached. In the panel's view, Mr Naylor's 'offer' to the School appeared to be a clear attempt inappropriately, to influence the proceedings of an appropriate investigation into his conduct. Mr Taylor's conduct in this respect did lack integrity and, therefore, the panel found this allegation proved. Findings as to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute Having found all of the allegations proven, the panel went on to consider whether the facts of those proven allegations amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. 8 In doing so, the panel had regard to the document Teacher Misconduct: The Prohibition of Teachers, which is referred to as “the Advice”. The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Naylor in relation to the facts found proven, involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards. The panel considered that by reference to Part Two, Mr Naylor was in breach of the following standards: • Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by o treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing pr