Mr John Cable

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 John Cable

Teacher reference number: 3975982

Teacher's date of birth: 2 June 1947

Location teacher worked: Leicester, East Midlands

Date of professional conduct panel: 24 June 2024 to 27 June 2024

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 John Cable formerly employed in Leicester, East Midlands.

Teacher misconduct

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Telephone 020 7593 5393

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

Mr John Cable: Professional conduct panel outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education June 2024 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 5 Summary of evidence 6 Documents 6 Witnesses 6 Decision and reasons 6 Findings of fact 9 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 15 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 19 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr John Cable Teacher ref number: 3975982 Teacher date of birth: 2 June 1947 TRA reference: 20679 Date of determination: 27 June 2024 Former employer: Aspire People Ltd, Leicester Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 24 – 27 June 2024 by way of a virtual hearing, to consider the case of Mr John Cable. The panel members were Mr Paul Hawkins (lay panellist – in the chair), Mrs Jane Brothwood (lay panellist) and Mrs Rachael Fidler (teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mr Jermel Anderson of Blake Morgan solicitors. The presenting officer for the TRA was Mr Lee Bridges of Kingsley Napley solicitors. Mr Cable was present and was not represented. The hearing took place in public and was recorded. 4 Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of proceedings dated 04 April 2024. It was alleged that Mr John Cable was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst working as a supply teacher at Beachamp College: 1. On or around 9 November 2021 you made inappropriate physical contact with one or more pupils whilst teaching a lesson in that you stroked their arm(s) on multiple occasions. 2. On or around 9 November 2021, you made inappropriate physical contact with Pupil C whilst teaching a lesson in that, you leant too close to the Pupil whilst talking. 3. On or around 9 November 2021, you acted inappropriately whilst teaching a lesson in that you pulled your fingers across your eyes when referring to Chinese people. 4. On or around 9 November 2021, you acted inappropriately whilst teaching a lesson in that: a) you pointed to a Pupil of African heritage and said, “My [REDACTED] looks like her” or words to that effect; and/or b) you said, “My [REDACTED] is black … When the lights are turned off, you cannot see her” or words to that effect 5. Your conduct at paragraphs 2, 3 and/or 4 was inappropriate, offensive, and/or motivated by prejudice based on race. a) You are guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute in that whilst working as a supply Teacher at St Paul’s Catholic School: 6. On or around 30 November 2021, you acted inappropriately towards Pupil D whilst teaching a lesson in that: a) You made multiple remarks and questions based on his apparent racial/national identity; b) You displayed frustration when he did not understand your Chinese c) You displayed body language towards him which suggested he was a foreigner or did not understand. 5 7. Your conduct at paragraph 6 was inappropriate, offensive, and/or motivated by prejudice based on race Mr Cable denied the allegations. Preliminary applications Application to admit the hearsay evidence of Pupil A The panel considered the written application as provided by the TRA in respect of the admission of the hearsay evidence of Pupil A. The application was opposed by Mr Cable. The panel also received and accepted legal advice in relation to this application. The panel first determined that the evidence of Pupil A appeared directly relevant to the matters that it had to consider. It noted that Pupil A’s evidence spoke directly to several of the allegations that it was due to consider. It did not consider that Pupil A’s account was sole and decisive in relation to any of the allegations. Additionally, it considered the evidence of Pupil A to be supported by the accounts of other witnesses such as Pupil B who was scheduled to give live evidence. The panel noted that through their written submissions, the TRA had demonstrated that significant efforts had been made to secure the attendance of Pupil A. The panel recognised that the absence of Pupil A meant that her evidence would not be scrutinised in the same way as that of other witnesses, it therefore determined to take extra care when considering what weight to afford to it. It was also acknowledged that there was some risk of prejudice to Mr Cable emanating from the inability to cross-examine this witness, however the panel was satisfied that it could exercise its function in a professional and proper manner, having consideration for Mr Cable’s position. The panel therefore approved the application of the TRA in respect of Pupil A’s evidence. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the hearing, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: Section 1: Chronology, anonymised pupil list and list of key people – pages 3 to 6 Section 2: Notice of proceedings and response – pages 7 to 14 Section 3: Teaching Regulation Agency witness statements – pages 15 to 27 Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency documents – pages 28 to 102 6 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 2022, (the “Procedures”). Witnesses The panel heard oral evidence from the following witnesses who were called by the TRA presenting officer: • Pupil D • Pupil B • Witness A, [REDACTED] Mr Cable also gave live evidence before the panel. He also called the following witness as a character witness: • Individual A, [REDACTED]. 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 Cable was employed by Aspire People Ltd as a Cover Supervisor on 11 March 2021, he first attended Beauchamp School in this capacity on 11 June 2021. On 9 November 2021, Mr Cable attended the Beauchamp School as a Cover Supervisor and a Pupil reported that he engaged in inappropriate behaviour. The incident was subsequently referred to the LADO. On 1 December 2021, St Paul’s Catholic School made a complaint about Mr Cable’s alleged behaviour to Aspire People Ltd, following Mr Cable working there as a Cover Supervisor on 30 November 2021. It was confirmed that there was no role for the LADO in respect of the alleged behaviour of Mr Cable on 8 December 2021. The matter was subsequently referred to the TRA on 24 March 2022. 7 Evidence The panel had careful regard to the oral and documentary evidence presented and the parties' submissions. It accepted the legal advice provided. The panel heard oral evidence from the following witnesses called by the presenting officer: • Pupil D • Pupil B • Witness A, [REDACTED] The panel was also presented with the hearsay evidence of Pupil A, in addition to a mix of internal policy and investigative documentation, including the contemporaneous accounts of various Pupils. The panel was also presented with other hearsay evidence from individuals who were involved in these events. The panel was satisfied that the admission of such evidence did not give rise to any unfairness in the specific circumstances of this case. It was presented with the TRA’s bundle, as had Mr Cable, and neither party had objected to any of the evidence presented on the grounds of inadmissibility. Nonetheless, the hearsay evidence presented was considered with appropriate caution and if and where it was relied upon, this is addressed in the panel's reasons, below. Mr Cable denied the allegations and that his actions constituted unacceptable professional conduct or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. Mr Cable gave oral evidence to the panel but relied upon no written or documentary evidence. The panel took account of all of the evidence presented regarding Mr Cable’s prior career, personal and professional achievements. Mr Cable was a person of good character. This was a factor the panel took into account when considering the allegations before it. The panel formed its own, independent view of the allegations based on the evidence presented to it. 8 Whilst the panel took due note of this evidence, the panel was mindful of the need to exercise its own independent judgment and not rely wholesale upon the opinion of any person, whatever their professional credentials, who was not engaged as an independent expert with a corresponding duty to the panel. It was for the panel, not anyone else, to draw inferences and conclusions from proven facts in this case. Finally, insofar as there were references, within the evidence, to other failings on the part of Mr Cable, which did not relate to the specific allegations before this panel, these were disregarded other than to the extent they were relevant contextually. Findings of fact The findings of fact are as follows: It was alleged that Mr John Cable was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst working as a supply teacher at Beachamp College: 1. On or around 9 November 2021 you made inappropriate physical contact with one or more Pupils whilst teaching a lesson in that you stroked their arm(s) on multiple occasions. The panel considered that whilst this allegation allowed for multiple occasions and was potentially in relation to one or more Pupils, it appeared to be most closely connected to the evide