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:

8059727

Teacher's date of birth:

20 February 1955

Location teacher worked:

Berkshire, South East England

Date of professional conduct panel:

28 February 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 Gunsel Akyol formerly employed in Berkshire, South East England.

The proceedings were held at Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Rd, Coventry CV1 2WT at 9.30am on 28 February 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 Gunsel Akyol: Professional conduct panel outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education February 2019 Contents A. Introduction 3 B. Allegations 4 C. Preliminary applications 5 D. Summary of evidence 6 Documents 6 Witnesses 6 E. Decision and reasons 6 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 10 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 12 2 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Gunsel Akyol Teacher ref number: 8059727 Teacher date of birth: 20 February 1955 TRA reference: 16760 Date of determination: 28 February 2019 Former employer: Waingels College, Woodley, Berkshire A. Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 28 February 2019 at Chelylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry CV1 2WT to consider the case of Mr Gunsel Akyol. The panel members were Ms Sarah Evans (teacher panellist – in the chair), Mr John Elliott (lay panellist) and Mr Steve Woodhouse (teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mr Graham Miles of Blake Morgan LLP solicitors. The presenting officer for the TRA was Mr Ian Perkins of Browne Jacobson LLP solicitors. Mr Akyol was not present and was not represented. The hearing took place in public and was recorded. 3 B. Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the Notice of Proceedings dated 17 December 2018. It was alleged that Mr Gunsel Akyol was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst employed as a teacher at Waingels College, Berkshire from January 1988 to August 2016: 1. He engaged in and/or developed an inappropriate relationship with one or more pupils, in particular: a) with Pupil A, between approximately 1991 and 1993, in that he: i. engaged in a personal and/or romantic relationship with her whilst she was a pupil at the school. ii. engaged in sexual activity and/or intercourse whilst she was a pupil at the school and/or shortly after she had left. iii. lived in the same accommodation with Pupil A after she had left the school. b) with Pupil B, between approximately 1999 and 2002, in that he: i. engaged in a personal and/or romantic relationship with her whilst she was a pupil at the school. ii. engaged in sexual activity and/or intercourse whilst she was a pupil at the school and/or shortly after she had left. iii. lived in the same accommodation with Pupil B after she had left the school. 2. His behaviour as may be found proven in allegations 1(a) and/or 1(b) above was sexually motivated. Mr Akyol admitted the facts alleged in 1(a) i to iii and 1 (b) i to iii, but denied the facts alleged in allegation 2. Mr Akyol further admitted that his conduct in allegations 1(a) and 1(b) amount to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. 4 C. Preliminary applications As to whether the hearing should proceed in the absence of Mr Akyol Mr Akyol was not present and was not represented. The presenting officer applied for the hearing to proceed in the absence of Mr Akyol. After hearing submissions from the presenting officer and receiving legal advice, the chair announced the decision of the panel as follows: The panel has decided that the hearing should proceed in the absence of Mr Akyol for the following reasons:  The Notice of Proceedings was sent to Mr Akyol in accordance with Rule 4.11.  Mr Akyol has responded to say that he will not be attending the hearing. Mr Akyol has signed a Statement of Agreed Facts and it is clear that he is expecting the hearing to proceed in his absence.  No application for an adjournment has been made and there would be no purpose in an adjournment.  The panel is satisfied that Mr Akyol has voluntarily waived his right to be present.  There is a public interest in the hearing taking place reasonably promptly. As to whether the hearing should be in public or private Mr Akyol made a written application that the hearing should take place in private. This application was opposed by the presenting officer. After hearing submissions from the presenting officer and receiving legal advice, the chair announced the decision of the panel as follows: The panel has considered the application from Mr Akyol that the hearing should take place in private. The panel is satisfied that there is a public interest in the hearing taking place in public and this outweighs the right to privacy in this case. However, the panel has identified matters in paragraphs 18 and 19 of the Statement of Agreed Facts that ought not to be referred to in public in order to preserve the identity of the individuals concerned. The panel believes that this issue can be addressed without the need to go into private session by those paragraphs not being read out or referred to in public. Accordingly, subject this qualification, the panel is satisfied that the hearing should take place in public. 5 D. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the hearing, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: Section 1: Chronology and anonymised pupil list – pages 2 to 3 Section 2: Notice of Proceedings and Response – pages 5 to 25 Section 3: Signed Statement of Agreed Facts – pages 27 to 31 Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency documents – pages 33 to 89 Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 91 to 102 Section 6: Department of Education documents – pages 104 to 144 The panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents in advance of the hearing. Witnesses No witnesses were called to give oral evidence. The panel was presented with a signed Statement of Agreed Facts. E. 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 hearing. Mr Gunsel Akyol was employed as a teacher of Economics and Business Studies at Waingels College ('the school') from January 1988 until August 2016. The school is a co- educational comprehensive school for children aged between 11 and 18 years located in Woodley, Berkshire. During his employment at the school, Mr Akyol held various positions of responsibility including Head of Department and Pastoral Lead for Key Stage 5. Mr Akyol's teaching duties mainly related to Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 and he mainly taught pupils in Year 10 to Year 13, aged 14 to 18. 6 Pupil A was a female pupil who attended the school between approximately 1987 and 1993. Pupil A remained a pupil at the school until Year 13 when she completed her A Levels. Pupil B was [REDACTED]. Both Pupil A and Pupil B studied Economics at A Level, a course taught by Mr Akyol at all relevant times. In February 2005, Pupil A reported her relationship with Mr Akyol. In March 2005, Mr Akyol received a final written warning from the school in respect of his professional conduct. On 12 May 2016, Mr Akyol was suspended by the school following a report of a relationship between Mr Akyol and Pupil B when she had been a pupil at the school. A disciplinary investigation commenced, but Mr Akyol resigned with effect from 31 August 2016. Mr Akyol has admitted the allegations, with the exception of allegation 2. The panel has been presented with a signed Statement of Agreed Facts. Findings of fact The panels 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 whilst employed as a teacher at Waingels College, Berkshire from January 1988 to August 2016: 1. You engaged in and/or developed an inappropriate relationship with one or more pupils, in particular: a. with Pupil A, between approximately 1991 and 1993, in that you: i. engaged in a personal and/or romantic relationship with her whilst she was a pupil at the school. Mr Akyol admits that he commenced a romantic relationship with Pupil A from the date of her 16th birthday. Mr Akyol admits that the relationship developed after Pupil A approached him concerning [REDACTED]. ii. engaged in sexual activity and/or intercourse whilst she was a pupil at the school and/or shortly after she had left. Mr Akyol admits that he engaged in sexual activity and sexual intercourse with Pupil A whilst she was a pupil at the school. He admits that he commenced a sexual relationship 7 with Pupil A when she was a Sixth Form pupil and that they would engage in sexual contact together during her breaks. iii. lived in the same accommodation with Pupil A after she had left the school. Mr Akyol admits that he continued his relationship with Pupil A and lived in the same accommodation as her after she left school in 1993. The panel finds allegation 1 a i, ii and iii proved. b) with Pupil B, between approximately 1999 and 2002, in that you: i. engaged in a personal and/or romantic relationship with her whilst she was a pupil at the school. Mr Akyol admits that between 1999 an