Mr Paul Arthur Stevens

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 Paul Arthur Stevens

Teacher reference number: 8061355

Teacher's date of birth: 23 August 1958

Location teacher worked: Worcester, west midlands

Date of professional conduct panel: 07 September 2022

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 Paul Arthur Stevens, formerly employed in Worcester, west midlands.

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 Paul Arthur Stevens: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education September 2022 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 5 Summary of evidence 5 Documents 5 Statement of agreed facts 6 Decision and reasons 6 Findings of fact 6 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 9 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 12 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Paul Arthur Stevens Teacher ref number: 8061355 Teacher date of birth: 23 August 1958 TRA reference: 17497 Date of determination: 7 September 2022 Former employer: Abberley Hall, Worcester (the “School”) Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened by Microsoft Teams to consider the case Mr Paul Arthur Stevens. The panel members were Ms Kelly Thomas (lay panellist – in the chair), Ms Gemma Hutchinson (teacher panellist) and Mr Alan Wells (former teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel Ms Anna Marjoram of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP solicitors. 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 Stevens that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Mr Stevens provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted the facts of the allegations and the conviction of a relevant offence. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer Ms Ruth Miller of Fieldfisher, Mr Stevens or his representative. The meeting took place in private. 4 Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of meeting dated 2 August 2022. It was alleged that Mr Stevens was guilty of having been convicted of a relevant offence, in that: 1. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14 between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1); 2. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 3. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14 between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1); 4. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1985 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 5. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 6. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1985 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 7. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14 between 1 January 1983 to 20 October 1985 contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1); 8. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 23 March 1988 and 22 March 1991. contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 9. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1985 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 10. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1983 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 11. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1985 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 5 12. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1985 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 13. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 16) between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15; 14. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14 between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1); 15. On 1 May 2019, he was convicted of gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14 between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991 contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1(1); 16. On 24 August 2020, he was convicted of indecent assault on boy (under 14) between 1 September 1992 and 30 September 1994 contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15. Mr Stevens admitted the facts of the above 16 allegations and that those facts amount to a conviction of a relevant offence. Preliminary applications There were no preliminary applications. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the meeting, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: Section 1: Chronology and list of key people – pages 1 to 2 Section 2: Notice of referral, response and notice of meeting – pages 3 to 20 Section 3: Statement of agreed facts and presenting officer representations – pages 21 to 28 Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency documents – pages 29 to 54 Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 55 to 60 The panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents within the bundle, and the Notice of Meeting which had been sent separately, in advance of the meeting. 6 Statement of agreed facts The panel considered a statement of agreed facts which was signed by Mr Stevens on 28 October 2021 and the presenting officer on 11 November 2021. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows: The panel carefully considered the case and reached a decision. In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Stevens 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 Paul Arthur Stevens was employed as a Teacher at the School from 1 September 1981. Mr Stevens resigned from his position at the end of Easter 2000. In 2015, allegations were raised against Mr Stevens’ conduct whilst employed at the School. Mr Stevens was subsequently investigated by Police. 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: 1. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1), namely gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; 2. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; 3. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1), namely gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; 7 4. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1985; 5. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; 6. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1985; 7. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1), namely gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14, between 1 January 1983 and 20 October 1985; 8. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 23 March 1988 and 22 March 1991; 9. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1985; 10. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1983; 11. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1985; 12. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1985; 13. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.15, namely indecent assault on a boy under 16, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; 14. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1), namely gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; 8 15. On 1 May 2019, you were convicted by Warwick Crown Court of an offence contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960 s.1 (1), namely gross indecency with a child (boy) under 14, between 16 May 1988 and 15 May 1991; and 16. On 24 August