Mr Stephen Atkinson

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 Stephen Atkinson

Teacher reference number: 9953516

Teacher's date of birth: 27 October 1976

Location teacher worked: Dorking, South East England

Date of professional conduct panel: 12 December 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 Stephen Atkinson formerly employed in Dorking, South East England.

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 Stephen Atkinson: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education December 2024 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 5 Summary of evidence 5 Documents 5 Statement of agreed facts 5 Decision and reasons 6 Findings of fact 7 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 13 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 16 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Stephen Atkinson Teacher ref number: 9953516 Teacher date of birth: 27 October 1976 TRA reference: 21372 Date of determination: 12 December 2024 Former employer: St Teresa’s School, Surrey Introduction A professional conduct panel (‘the panel’) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (‘the TRA’) convened on 12 December 2024 by way of a virtual meeting, to consider the case of Mr Stephen Atkinson. The panel members were Mr Nigel Shock (lay panellist – in the chair), Mrs Jane Brothwood (lay panellist) and Mrs Anne Davis (teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mrs Samantha Cass of Birketts 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 Atkinson that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Mr Atkinson provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer of Kingsley Napley LLP, Mr Atkinson or any representative for Mr Atkinson. The meeting took place in private by way of a virtual meeting. 4 Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of meeting dated 24 September 2024. It was alleged that Mr Atkinson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst working as a teacher at St Teresa’s School: 1. Between May 2020 and October 2022, he acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner in relation to former Pupil A: a) While former Pupil A was a pupil at the School as set out in Schedule A; b) After former Pupil A had left the School as set out in Schedule B. 2. Between June 2017 and December 2021, he acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner in relation to former Pupil B, in that he: a) Exchanged emails of a personal nature, while former Pupil B was a pupil at the School; b) Arranged to meet up after former Pupil B had left the School and/or met up with former Pupil B at a café 3. His actions at paragraphs 1 and/or 2 were sexually motivated; 4. His conduct as set out within Schedule B was sexual in nature. Schedule A i. Exchanged emails of a personal nature with former Pupil A; ii. Walked around the School grounds together with former Pupil A; iii. Stated in an email on or around 19 July 2022, to former Pupil A “you look radiant”, or words to that effect; iv. Exchanged personal email addresses with former Pupil A. Schedule B i. Arranged to meet up with former Pupil A and/or met up with former Pupil A on one or more occasions; ii. Hugged former Pupil A and/or touched her on and/or near the waist; 5 iii. Asked former Pupil A “can I give you a kiss?” or words to that effect and when questioned by former Pupil A stated “no properly, on the lips” or words to that effect; iv. Kissed former Pupil A on the cheek Mr Atkinson admitted the facts of allegations 1(a), 1(b), 2(a), 2(b), 3 and 4 and that his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, falling short of the standards of behaviour expected of a teacher, as set out in the statement of agreed facts signed by Mr Atkinson on 6 September 2024. 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 4 to 6 • Section 2: Notice of proceedings and response to notice of referral – pages 7 to 23 • Section 3: Statement of agreed facts – pages 24 to 30 • Section 4: TRA documents – pages 31 to 997 • Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 998 to 1002 • Section 6: Notice of meeting – pages 1003 to 1005 The panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents within the bundle, in advance of the meeting. Statement of agreed facts The panel considered a statement of agreed facts which was signed by Mr Atkinson on 6 September 2024, and subsequently signed by the presenting officer on 9 September 2024. 6 Decision and reasons The panel carefully considered the case and reached the following decision and reasons: In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Atkinson 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. On 1 September 2004, Mr Atkinson commenced employment at St Teresa’s School (“the School”). From September 2010 to July 2017, former Pupil B attended the School. During this time Mr Atkinson allegedly exchanged emails of a personal nature with former Pupil B. Mr Atkinson allegedly met former Pupil B in [REDACTED] in 2022. From January 2017 to August 2022, former Pupil A attended the School. During this time Mr Atkinson allegedly exchanged emails of a personal nature with former Pupil A. On 7 July 2022, Mr Atkinson allegedly provided former Pupil A with his personal email address. On 19 July 2022, Mr Atkinson allegedly contacted former Pupil A on their personal email address and sent them an email stating “you look radiant”. On 3 October 2022, Parent A disclosed concerns regarding Mr Atkinson’s communication with former Pupil A. Mr Atkinson was suspended on 4 October 2022. The police were informed of the concerns on 5 October 2022. On 17 October 2022, the police informed the School that their investigation had been closed. On 26 October 2022(*), Mr Atkinson allegedly picked up former Pupil A from their workplace, drove them to [REDACTED] and went for a walk. Former Pupil A alleges that Mr Atkinson hugged them, placed his hands on their waist and kissed them on the cheek. The panel noted that Mr Atkinson had admitted to placing his hands on former Pupil A’s waist during one of their hugs. On 22 December 2022, the matter was referred to the TRA. (*) Although the panel noted that Mr Atkinson had admitted to this allegation having taken place in October 2022, the other documents within the bundle, including the School’s investigation, indicated that this took place in September 2022. 7 Findings of fact The findings of fact are as follows: 1. Between May 2020 and October 2022, you acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner in relation to former Pupil A: a) While former Pupil A was a pupil at the School as set out in Schedule A; b) After former Pupil A had left the School as set out in Schedule B. The panel noted that Mr Atkinson admitted this allegation. Notwithstanding this, the panel considered the evidence presented to it and made a determination. The panel had sight of the emails between Mr Atkinson and former Pupil A and noted that the emails contained comments of a personal nature. The panel noted the following comments in particular: On 19 May 2020: • Mr Atkinson to former Pupil A “Hi [former Pupil A] Just a quick message, I thought you’d like to know, we had [REDACTED]!! Everyone is doing fine but we are tired! More details soon” • Former Pupil A to Mr Atkinson: “Oh my gosh Mr A congratulations!!!! Yay I was [REDACTED] [smiley face] I hope you feel a little less tired soon – although I’m sure you’re ecstatic. Awwww I don’t even know what to say I’m just smiling like a fool. I’d love to know when [REDACTED]! Ahhhhh I’m so happy for you Mr A!” • Mr Atkinson to former Pupil A: “Its great to hear that you are so happy too! [ 2 smiley faces] Well I have a name and a photo too – she is called [Child D] and was [REDACTED]. More photos to come [smiley face] Speak to you soon – maybe a video chat on Friday?” On 17 July 2020: • Mr Atkinson to former Pupil A: “I hope you are having a great start to the summer hols. I am mainly messaging regarding your [REDACTED], but I thought it would be nice to say hello too! It was really nice to chat right at the end of term, lets try and do it more often next year! I’ve attached a few [Child E] and [Child D] photos that I thought you might like to see [smiley face]…” The panel noted that some of the emails were in relation to Mr Atkinson and former Pupil A “meeting up”. The panel noted the following email in particular: 8 • On 25 July 2022 from Mr Atkinson to former Pupil A: … “we might be able to meet up sooner! Other than this Saturday and every Monday + Friday I am completely free. So let me know when you are available.” The panel considered the School’s investigation report, that set out that Mr Atkinson said he walked with former Pupil A in areas that were visible to others. It is mentioned in the report that former Pupil A had said that they and Mr Atkinson would walk around the car park and the astroturf within the School grounds together. The panel considered the email exchange between Mr Atkinson and former Pupil A on 19 July 2022 within which Mr Atkinson said “You look radiant” and “you all look beautiful in your dresses…” with reference to a prom photograph which former Pupil A sent Mr Atkinson. The panel also noted in