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:

9541567

Teacher's date of birth:

9 November 1970

Location teacher worked:

Gloucestershire, South West England

Date of professional conduct panel:

3 January 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 Gethin Hughes Bridge formerly employed in Gloucestershire, South West England.

The proceedings were held at Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Rd, Coventry CV1 2WT at 9.30am on 3 January 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 Gethin Hughes Bridge: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education January 2019 2 Contents A. Introduction 3 B. Allegations 4 - 5 C. Summary of evidence 5 - 6 Documents 5 Statement of agreed facts 6 D. Decision and reasons 6 - 10 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 9 - 12 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 12 - 13 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Gethin Hughes Bridge Teacher ref number: 9541567 Teacher date of birth: 9 November 1970 TRA reference: 17154 Date of determination: 3 January 2019 Former employer: Winchcombe School, Gloucestershire A. Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 3 January 2019 at Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry, CV1 2WT to consider the case of Mr Gethin Hughes Bridge . The panel members were Mr John Pemberton ( former teacher panellist – in the chair), Mrs Alison Walsh (teacher panellist) and Mr Anthony Greenwood (lay panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mr Graham Miles of Blake Morgan LLP solicitors. In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Gethin Hughes Bridge that the allegations be considered without a hearing after taking into consideration the public interest and the interests of justice. Mr Bridge provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer, Mr Bridge 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 10 December 2018. It was alleged that Mr Gethin Hughes Bridge was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that he: 1. Failed to observe appropriate professional boundaries in relation to Pupil A, including by: a) exchanging personal contact information with her; b) exchanging messages with Pupil A, including: i. which were sent late at night; ii. in which he told Pupil A that he loved her; iii. in which he told Pupil A that he missed her and/or was thinking of her; iv. in which he stated that Pupil A could live with him; v. in which he called Pupil A beautiful; vi. in which he discussed pupils and/or other members of staff at the School; vii. in which he stated that he was "mesmerised" watching Pupil A and "struggled to take [his] eyes off [her]"; viii. in which he stated that Pupil A had "gorgeous legs"; ix. in which he stated that he "want[ed] to trail kisses on [Pupil A]"; x. in which he stated that he did "want [Pupil A] to be here very badly!"; xi. in which he stated "I wish you were here so that as you do start to drift away I can linger on the contours of your face, tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear and kiss you softly. And you will be loved"; xii. in which he stated "I imagined you this morning with your hair spilling over the pillow, watching me, looking for a story. The thought made skin tingle and that deep, soft, gentle shiver ran through me." xiii. in which he included a 'love heart' picture. 2. Failed to observe appropriate professional boundaries in relation to Pupil B, including by: 5 a) exchanging personal contact information with her; b) exchanging messages with Pupil B, including one or more messages: i. which were sent late at night; ii. in which he included the 'love heart' picture; iii. in which he stated that he had missed Pupil B "more than [he] thought possible…"; iv. in which he discussed other members of staff at the School. 3. His conduct as may be found proven at 1 and/or 2 above was: a) flirtatious; b) conduct of a sexual nature and/or sexually motivated; Mr Bridge admitted the alleged facts. Mr Bridge also admitted that his conduct amounted to 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 – page 1 Section 2: Notice of Referral, Response and Notice of Meeting – pages 2 to 8c Section 3: Statement of Agreed Facts and Presenting Officer's Representations – pages 9 to 28 Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency documents – pages 29 to 50 Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 51 to 58 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 Bridge on 15 October 2018. 6 D. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows: The panel has carefully considered the case and reached a decision. The panel confirms that it has read all the documents provided in the bundle in advance of the meeting. In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Bridge that the allegations be considered without a hearing. The panel has 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 is necessary or appropriate in this case. Mr Gethin Hughes Bridge was employed as a geography and history teacher at Winchcombe School, Gloucestershire ("the School") until his dismissal on 17 April 2018. On various dates between August 2017 and December 2017, Mr Bridge exchanged emails with Pupil A and Pupil B, who were two former pupils of the School. Both pupils had previously been taught by Mr Bridge but had left the School to go to [Redacted], Evesham by the time that the exchanges of emails commenced. Concerns were raised by the safeguarding lead at [Redacted] following disclosures made by the two pupils about their former teacher at Winchcombe School. The safeguarding lead immediately brought these concerns to the attention of Winchcombe School. When the exchange of emails came to the attention of the School, disciplinary proceedings were commenced that resulted in Mr Bridge's dismissal. Mr Bridge has admitted the alleged facts and also signed a Statement of Agreed Facts Findings of fact The panel's findings of fact are as follows: It was alleged that you are guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that you: 1. Failed to observe appropriate professional boundaries in relation to Pupil A, including by: a) exchanging personal contact information with her; b) exchanging messages with Pupil A, including: i. which were sent late at night; ii. in which you told Pupil A that you loved her; 7 iii. in which you told Pupil A that you missed her and/or were thinking of her; iv. in which you stated that Pupil A could live with you; v. in which you called Pupil A beautiful; vi. in which you discussed pupils and/or other members of staff at the School; vii. in which you state that you were "mesmerised" watching Pupil A and "struggled to take my eyes off you"; viii. in which you state that Pupil A had "gorgeous legs"; ix. in which you state that he "want to trail kisses on [Pupil A]"; x. in which you state that you "do want [Pupil A] to be here very badly!"; xi. in which you state "I wish you were here so that as you do start to drift away I can linger on the contours of your face, tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear and kiss you softly. And you will be loved"; xii. in which you state "I imagined you this morning with your hair spilling over the pillow, watching me, looking for a story. The thought made skin tingle and that deep, soft, gentle shiver ran through me." xiii. in which you included a 'love heart' picture. Mr Bridge has admitted each of the factual particulars in 1a and 1b i to xiii and that he failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in relation to Pupil A. The panel has also been presented with copies of emails confirming the alleged contents of the emails between Mr Bridge and Pupil A, which were samples of approximately 800 emails. The panel finds allegations 1a and 1 b i to xiii proved. 2. Failed to observe appropriate professional boundaries in relation to Pupil B, including by: a) exchanging personal contact information with her; b) exchanging messages with Pupil B, including one or more messages: i. which were sent late at night; ii. in which you included a 'love heart' picture; 8 iii. in which you stated that you had missed Pupil B "more than [you] thought possible…"; iv. in which you discussed other members of staff at the School. Mr Bridge has admitted each of the factual particulars in 2a and 2b i to iv and that he failed to maintain ap