Mr Thomas Scovell

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 Thomas Scovell

Teacher reference number: 1050345

Teacher's date of birth: 9 May 1968

Location teacher worked: Hertfordshire, East of England.

Date of professional conduct panel: 10 November 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 Thomas Scovell, formerly employed in Hertfordshire, East of England.

Teacher misconduct

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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 Thomas Scovell: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education November 2022 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 5 Summary of evidence 5 Documents 5 Statement of agreed facts 5 Decision and reasons 5 Findings of fact 6 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 12 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 Thomas Scovell Teacher ref number: 1050345 Teacher date of birth: 9 May 1968 TRA reference: 19706 Date of determination: 10 November 2022 Former employer: Goffs Academy, Hertfordshire Introduction A professional conduct panel (‘the panel’) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (‘the TRA’) convened on 10 November 2022 by way of a virtual meeting, to consider the case of Mr Thomas Scovell. The panel members were Mr Neil Hillman (teacher panellist – in the chair), Mr Nigel Shock (lay panellist) and Mrs Elizabeth Pollitt (teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Ms Josie Beal 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 Scovell that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Mr Scovell provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer, Mr Shaun Moran of Capsticks, Mr Scovell or any representative for Mr Scovell. 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 30 August 2022. It was alleged that Mr Scovell was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst employed as a teacher at Goffs Academy, he: 1. On an unknown date, prior to 10 September 2020, brought alcohol, namely vodka, onto school premises and left it in an unlocked classroom cupboard. 2. Between 05 July 2019 and 10 September 2020, brought prescription drugs onto school premises, and left them in an unlocked desk drawer, in an unlocked classroom. 3. On 7 September 2020, assured the Trust's HR Director that he was not drinking alcohol despite: a) Having resumed drinking in mid-August 2020; and b) Drinking heavily in the days leading up to 7 September 2020. 4. On 10 September 2020, contacted Colleague A via text message stating: a) "Please call now I need you to save my caree Im desperate" [sic] or words to that effect; and b) "Please call I need some help with sotmething I left hopefully hidden in my room" [sic] or words to that effect. 5. After being advised on 10 September 2020 to not contact any other member of staff following his notice of suspension, contacted Colleague A again: a) Late on 10 September 2020; and b) On the morning of 11 September 2020. 6. On 02 October 2020, provided a false explanation of the reason for the bottle of vodka being brought onto school premises. 7. By his course of conduct as set out in allegations 3 and/or 4 and/or 5 and/or 6 was dishonest and/or demonstrated a lack of integrity. Mr Scovell admitted the facts of allegations 1 to 7 and that his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute falling short of the standards of behaviour expected of a teacher, as set out in 5 the response to the notice of referral dated 28 June 2022 and in the statement of agreed facts signed by Mr Scovell on 28 June 2022. 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, anonymised pupil list and list of key people – pages 3 to 5 • Section 2: Notice of referral, response and notice of meeting – pages 6 to 27 • Section 3: Statement of agreed facts and presenting officer representations – pages 28 to 37 • Section 4: TRA documents – pages 39 to 175 • Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 176 to 181 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 Scovell on 28 June 2022 and signed by the presenting officer on 29 July 2022. 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 Scovell 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 Scovell was employed as an English teacher at Goffs Academy (‘the Academy’) from 1 September 2015. 6 On 7 September 2020, a colleague raised concerns with the HR Director about Mr Scovell's state of health. The HR Director then spoke to Mr Scovell, who denied that he had resumed drinking. On 10 September 2020, Mr Scovell collapsed at the Academy and was taken to North Middlesex University Hospital. Mr Scovell contacted a member of staff asking them to save his career and help him with something he hopefully left hidden in his room. The Academy conducted searches and found a bottle of vodka which was half full and a quantity of prescription drugs. The Academy contacted Mr Scovell to inform him he was suspended and should not contact any other members of staff. Mr Scovell contacted the same member of staff on 10 and 11 September 2020, asking to have them look in his room and/or to call him. On 14 September 2020, Mr Scovell left the hospital without being formally discharged. The Academy concluded an investigation into the allegations against Mr Scovell on 21 October 2020. A disciplinary hearing was held on 9 December 2020 and the Academy formally dismissed Mr Scovell on 10 December 2020. The matter was referred to the TRA on 15 December 2020. 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: The panel noted that within the response to the notice of referral dated 28 June 2022 and in the statement of agreed facts signed by Mr Scovell on 28 June 2022, Mr Scovell admitted the facts of allegations 1 to 7. The panel was also provided with correspondence between Mr Scovell and the presenting officers’ firms, within which he indicated that he did not intend to dispute the allegations against him. Notwithstanding this, the panel made its own determination based on the evidence available to it. 1. On an unknown date, prior to 10 September 2020, brought alcohol, namely vodka, onto school premises and left it in an unlocked classroom cupboard. Mr Scovell admitted that on an unknown date prior to 10 September 2020, he obtained alcohol, namely vodka, and brought it onto the Academy premises. Mr Scovell admitted that he left the alcohol in an unlocked classroom cupboard. Mr Scovell’s admission in the statement of agreed facts was consistent with his admissions throughout the Academy’s investigation and disciplinary process and 7 throughout the TRA process. The notes of the disciplinary hearing stated: “by his own admission Tom unequivocally brought alcohol on site and left it in an unsecured resources cupboard where it was easily accessible by students”. In a letter to the presenting officer firm dated 20 August 2021, Mr Scovell stated: “I did have unsecured vodka…in my classroom on the 10th of September 2020.” The panel also noted photographs within the bundle of documents which showed a bottle of vodka in a bag, which had been left in a classroom cupboard. The cupboard appeared to be unlocked and unlockable. Therefore, pupils and staff members could have had access to the contents. The panel found allegation 1 proven. 2. Between 05 July 2019 and 10 September 2020, brought prescription drugs onto school premises, and left them in an unlocked desk drawer, in an unlocked classroom. Mr Scovell admitted that between 5 July 2019 and 10 September 2020, he brought prescription drugs onto the Academy premises and left them in an unlocked desk drawer, in an unlocked classroom. Mr Scovell admitted that he failed to keep prescription medication secure by leaving it in an unlocked desk drawer in an unlocked classroom. Mr Scovell’s admission in the statement of agreed facts was consistent with his admissions throughout the Academy’s investigation and disciplinary process and throughout the TRA process. The notes of the disciplinary hearing stated: “Tom agrees that he brought prescription drugs on site and left them in an unlocked drawer”. In a letter to the presenting officer firm dated 20 August 2021, Mr Scovell stated: “I did have… [REDACTED] in my classroom on the 10th of September 2020.” The panel also noted images submitted as part of the bundle which showed prescription drugs belonging to Mr Scovell, which had been left in a desk drawer. The drawer appeared to be unlocked and unlockable . Therefore, pu pils and staff members could have had access to the contents. The panel found allegation 2 proven. 3. On 7 September 2020, assured the Trust's HR Director that you were not drinking alcohol despite: a) Having resumed drinking in mid-August 2020; b) Drinking heavily in the days leading up to 7 September 2020. Mr Scovell admitted that on 7 September 2020, he a