Mr Joe Wilson

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

Teacher's name: Mr Joe Wilson

Location teacher worked: Rotherham, Yorkshire and the Humber

Date of professional conduct panel: 13 April to 14 April 2026

Outcome type: No order made

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 Joe Wilson formerly employed in Rotherham, Yorkshire and the Humber.

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.

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Mr Joe Wilson: Professional conduct panel outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education April 2026 2 OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Summary of evidence 4 Documents 4 Witnesses 5 Decision and reasons 5 Findings of fact 5 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 14 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 17 3 OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Joe Wilson TRA reference: 22870 Date of determination: 14 April 2026 Former employer: Listerdale Junior Academy, Rotheram Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 13 to 14 April 2025 by way of a virtual hearing, to consider the case of Mr Wilson. The panel members were Mr Gamel Byles (teacher panellist – in the chair), Mrs Diane Underwood (lay panellist) and Mr Ramandeep Rai (lay panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Miss Elizabeth Gilbert of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP solicitors. The presenting officer for the TRA was Mr Michael Bellis of Capsticks solicitors. Mr Wilson was not present and was not represented. The hearing took place in public, save that portions of the hearing were heard in private, and was recorded. 4 OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of proceedings dated 6 January 2026. It was alleged that Mr Wilson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that while employed as a teacher at Listerdale Junior Academy (“the School”): 1. On or around 18 and 19 May 2023 he: a. Was absent from the School without a proper reason; b. Reported to the School that he was absent from the School because of sickness, when that was not the case. 2. On date unknown on or after 18 May 2023 he removed pages from his passport which would have contained stamps showing he was out of the country on the dates at allegation 1 3. Mr Wilson’s conduct as may be found proven at allegation 1(a) demonstrates lack of integrity. 4. Mr Wilson’s conduct as may be found proved at allegation 1(b) and/ or 2 was dishonest and/ or lacked integrity In his written statements provided to the TRA, Mr Wilson admitted that he was absent from the School on the dates alleged, reported to the School that he was sick when that was not the case, and had removed pages from his passport. However, Mr Wilson was not present at the hearing. As such, the facts of the allegations and whether his conduct amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute was treated as not admitted by Mr Wilson. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the hearing, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: Section 1: Chronology and list of key people – pages 2 to 3 Section 2: Notice of proceedings and response – pages 4 to 30 Section 3: Teaching Regulation Agency witness statements – pages 31 to 178 5 OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Section 4: Teacher documents – pages 179 to 180 The panel also received the following documents relating to the preliminary applications: • The presenting officer’s proceeding in absence application bundle; • Email correspondence between Mr Wilson and the TRA/presenting officer’s firm; and • [REDACTED] The panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents within the bundle, in advance of the hearing. In the consideration of this case, the panel had regard to the document ‘Teacher misconduct: Disciplinary procedures for the teaching profession’ 2020, (the “Procedures”). Witnesses The panel heard oral evidence from the following witness called by the presenting officer: • Witness A – [REDACTED] Mr Wilson did not attend the hearing and did not give oral evidence. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows: The panel carefully considered the case before it and reached a decision. Mr Wilson was employed as a teacher of a year 6 class at the School from 1 September 2016. On 24 May 2023, the School initiated an investigation into Mr Wilson’s conduct following an anonymous report regarding his absence from the School on 18 and 19 May 2023. A referral was made to the TRA regarding Mr Wilson’s conduct on 6 December 2023. Findings of fact The findings of fact are as follows: The panel found the following particulars of the allegations against you proved, for these reasons: 6 OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 1. On or around 18 and 19 May 2023 you: a. Were absent from the School without a proper reason; b. Reported to the School that you were absent from the School because of sickness, when that was not the case. Mr Wilson was not present at the hearing. As such, the allegations were treated as not admitted by Mr Wilson. Witness A stated in her written statement that she was appointed as the investigating officer on 8 June 2023, alongside Person B ([REDACTED]), to undertake a formal investigation into concerns raised regarding an allegation that Mr Wilson had “dishonestly reported sick for work and went on holiday” on 18 and 19 May 2023. The panel noted that the investigation report contained, amongst other things, screenshots of pictures on Facebook, a screenshot of text messages between Mr Wilson and Person B, a copy of Mr Wilson’s passport, a note of Mr Wilson’s first investigation meeting on 8 June 2023 and a note of Mr Wilson’s second investigation meeting dated 26 June 2023. Witness A stated in her written statement that she “first became aware of the concerns” relating to Mr Wilson’s absence from the School on 18 and 19 May 2023 when Person B “had been provided with photos of a Facebook post by an anonymous member of staff, of [Mr Wilson] in an airport with a suitcase and a pint of beer in his hand, which [Person B] took screenshots of”. The panel considered screenshots of the photographs on Facebook which were included in the School’s investigation report. The panel noted that one of the photographs was posted at 5:23am on 18 May 2023, not by Mr Wilson, with the caption “Early start for [REDACTED] stag do, few beers with the Portugal gaffer”. Witness A confirmed in her oral evidence that Mr Wilson could be identified in three of the thirteen photographs, including the photograph with this caption, in which Mr Wilson could be seen standing in an airport with a drink in his hand. In respect of the remaining photographs which were posted on 21 May 2023, the panel noted that it was the same group of people who could be seen on what appeared to be the same trip in Portugal. The panel considered an exchange of text messages between Mr Wilson and Person B which was also included in the School’s investigation report. The panel noted that the messages showed that Mr Wilson messaged Person B at 5:19am on 18 May 2023, stating “I’m not going to be in school today. I’ve been up all night being sick and have got a really bad headache”. Mr Wilson again messaged Person B on 19 May 2023 at 6:11am stating “I’m still no better so won’t be in school today. Can’t keep any food or water down. I’ll keep you updated”. On 22 May 2023, Mr Wilson again messaged Person B at 6:57am confirming “I’ll be in school today”. 7 OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE The panel considered the first investigation meeting note dated 8 June 2023, which was signed by Mr Wilson as a true record of the discussion, and the second investigation meeting note dated 26 June 2023, which was later agreed by Mr Wilson via email. The panel noted in the first investigation meeting that Mr Wilson stated he “wasn’t on a stag do on those days” when questioned by Person B as to whether it was him in the photographs on Facebook heading to Portugal on a stag do, but that he had attended Portugal on a stag do on a different date. Mr Wilson further stated in the interview that he was “at home in bed” on 18 and 19 May 2023 and that he did not consult a doctor. The panel noted that Mr Wilson continued to deny in the second investigation interview that he was in Portugal on 18 and 19 May 2023, but that he accepted that he was in some of the photographs posted on Facebook as they were taken from a previous trip. The panel considered the following statements made by Mr Wilson during the course of the TRA’s proceedings, in which Mr Wilson changed his position as set out in the School’s investigation: ▪ Mr Wilson stated in an email to the TRA on 6 June 2024, that he “made the decision to attend the stag do while [REDACTED]”. ▪ In his written statement to the TRA, Mr Wilson stated that he “agreed to attend a stag do in Lisbon” in May 2023 when he [REDACTED]. Mr Wilson further stated that at the time of his conduct he “[REDACTED]”. Mr Wilson further stated that “these aren’t excuses” as he accepted that he “made a huge error of judgement but [felt] the situation at the time influenced [him] to make this poor decision”. ▪ Mr Wilson stated in an email to the TRA on 6 October 2025, that he has “accepted full responsibility” for his actions, including “falsifying a sickness”. ▪ In an email to the TRA on 3 February 2026, Mr Wilson further stated that he “pulled a sickie to go on [his] mates stag do”. Witness A stated in her oral evidence that the School has a “special leave of absence policy” which allows teachers to request time off during the School’s term time, as time off d