Mr Stuart Coughlan

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 Stuart Coughlan

Teacher reference number: 1168745

Teacher's date of birth: 21 May 1987

Location teacher worked: south east England

Date of professional conduct panel: 15 June 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 Stuart Coughlan, formerly employed in 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 Stuart Coughlan: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education June 2022 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 4 Summary of evidence 4 Documents 4 Statement of agreed facts 5 Decision and reasons 5 Findings of fact 6 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 9 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 11 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Stuart Coughlan Teacher ref number: 1168745 Teacher date of birth: 21 May 1987 TRA reference: 0018334 Date of determination: 15 June 2022 Former employer: Akeley Wood Junior School, Buckingham Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 15 June 2022 remotely via Microsoft TEAMS to consider the case of Mr Stuart Coughlan. The panel members were Mr Maurice McBride (lay panellist – in the chair), Miss Sue Davies (lay panellist) and Mrs Sonia Fraser (teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Miss Sarah Price of Blake Morgan 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 Coughlan that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Mr Coughlan provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute and conviction of a relevant offence. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer, Mr Coughlan or his representative. The meeting took place in private. 4 Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of meeting dated 31 May 2022. It was alleged that Mr Coughlan has been convicted of a relevant offence and is guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute in that whilst a teacher at Akeley Wood Junior School he: 1. On 19 September 2019, was convicted of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level was above the limit on 23 December 2018, contrary to section 5(1)(a) of other Road Traffic Act 1998 and schedule 2 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. 2. On 19 September 2019, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment or alarm or distress thereby on 23 December 2018 contrary to section 5(1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986. 3. He was found guilty of/admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment or alarm or distress thereby in relation to your conduct at 2 above and was conditionally discharged for 12 months. Mr Coughlan admitted the facts and he admitted unacceptable professional conduct, conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute and conviction of a relevant offence. Preliminary applications There were no preliminary applications. At the outset of the hearing, the panel noted that a document had not been redacted, when it was clear that it ought to have been. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, the TRA contacted Mr Coughlan to explain the issue. Mr Coughlan confirmed in writing that he was happy for this Meeting to proceed, so long as the panel disregarded the material that should have been redacted. The panel heard and accepted legal advice to disregard that information. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the meeting, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: Section 1: Chronology, Anonymised Pupil List and List of Key People – pages 1 to 2 5 Section 2: Notice of Referral, Response and Notice of Meeting – pages 3 to 12 Section 3: Statement of Agreed Facts and Presenting Officer Representations – pages 13 to 18 Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency Documents – pages 19 to 70 Section 5: Documents received from the Teacher on 14 March 2022 – pages 71 to 90 Section 6: Documents received from the Teacher's Rep on 4 April 2022 – pages 91-92 Section 7: Documents received from the Teacher on 9 May 2022 – page 93 In addition, the panel received the following: Supplemental Meeting Bundle and Index – Page 1-9 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 Coughlan on 9 May 2022. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows: In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Mr Coughlan 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 Coughlan had been employed as a teacher at Akeley Wood Junior School ("the School") from 1 September 2015 to 14 October 2019. On 23 December 2018, Mr Coughlan was arrested by Thames Valley Police following a drink driving incident that occurred on the same day. On 19 September 2019, Mr Coughlan was convicted of driving a motor vehicle when his alcohol level was above the limit. Mr Coughlan also received a conditional discharge in relation to his behaviour when in hospital following the drink driving incident on 23 December 2018. Mr Coughlan was subsequently dismissed from his position at the School. 6 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: It was alleged that Mr Coughlan has been convicted of a relevant offence and is guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute in that whilst a teacher at Akeley Wood Junior School he: 1. On 19 September 2019, was convicted of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level was above the limit on 23 December 2018, contrary to section 5(1)(a) of other Road Traffic Act 1998 and schedule 2 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. The allegation was admitted by Mr Coughlan and was supported by evidence presented to the panel within the bundle. In particular, the panel noted the Memorandum of Conviction and took this as proof of the commission of the offence concerned. The allegation was therefore, found proved. 2. On 19 September 2019, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment or alarm or distress thereby on 23 December 2018 contrary to section 5(1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986. The allegation was admitted by Mr Coughlan and was supported by evidence presented to the panel within the bundle. In particular, the panel noted the Memorandum of Conviction and took this as proof of the commission of the offence concerned. The allegation was therefore, found proved. 3. He was found guilty of/admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment or alarm or distress thereby in relation to your conduct at 2 The allegation was admitted and was supported by evidence presented to the panel within the bundle. In particular, the panel noted the Memorandum of Conviction and took this as proof of the commission of the offence concerned in relation to the conduct. The allegation was therefore, found proved. 7 Findings as to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute and conviction of a relevant offence Findings as to conviction of a relevant offence (allegation 1) Having found allegation 1 proved, the panel went on to consider whether the facts of the proven allegation amounted to a conviction of a relevant offence. In doing so, the panel had regard to the document Teacher Misconduct: The Prohibition of Teachers, which is referred to as “the Advice”. The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Coughlan in relation to the facts it found proved involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards. The panel considered that by reference to Part 2, Mr Coughlan was in breach of the following standards:  Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school,  Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities. The panel noted that Mr Coughlan's actions were not relevant to teaching, working with children or working in an education setting because the conduct occurred following a night out with friends, and the incident did not involve any other persons, specifically it did not involve young people. The panel noted that the behaviour involved in committing the offence could have had an impact on the safety of members of the public. The panel also took account of the way the teaching profession is viewed by others. The panel considered that Mr Coughlan's behaviour in committing the offence could affect public confidence in the teaching profession, given the influence that teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community. The panel noted that Mr Coughlan's behaviour did not lead to a sentence of imprisonment, which was indicative that the offence was at the less serious end of the possible spectrum. This was a case involving an offence of 'serious driving offences, particularly those involving alcohol or drugs', which the Advice states is likely to be considered a rele