Ms Joanna Broad- Reeder

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: Ms Joanna Broad- Reeder

Teacher reference number: 8937649

Teacher's date of birth: 12 February 1967

Location teacher worked: Cheshire

Date of professional conduct panel:07 March 2025

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 Ms Joanna Broad- Reeder, Crewe, Cheshire.

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.

Ms Joanna Broad- Reeder: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education March 2025 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 5 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 10 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 13 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Ms Joanna Broad-Reeder Teacher ref number: 8937649 Teacher date of birth: 12 February 1967 TRA reference: 23523 Date of determination: 7 March 2025 Former employer: St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy, Stoke-on-Trent Introduction A professional conduct panel (‘the panel’) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (‘the TRA’) convened on 7 March 2025 by way of a virtual meeting, to consider the case of Ms Joanna Broad-Reeder. The panel members were Mrs Julie Wells (teacher panellist – in the chair), Mr Nigel Shock (lay panellist) and Mr Philip Thompson (teacher panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mr Benjamin Lewins 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 Ms Broad-Reeder that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Ms Broad-Reeder 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, Ms Sophie Allen of Kingsley Napley LLP, Ms Broad-Reeder or any representative for Ms Broad-Reeder. 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 27 January 2025 (the panel being satisfied that Ms Broad-Reeder had waived her entitlement to 10 weeks’ notice of the meeting). It was alleged that Ms Broad-Reeder was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst working at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy: 1. Between and/or around September 2022 and January 2024, she had an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A, a pupil she taught at her former employer St Thomas More School, in that while Pupil A was under 18, she: a) Arranged to meet and/or met outside of school; b) Exchanged telephone numbers; c) Exchanged messages of a personal nature. Ms Broad-Reeder admitted the facts of allegations 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) and that her 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 Ms Broad-Reeder on 13 January 2025. 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 referral and response – pages 7 to 14 • Section 3: Statement of agreed facts and presenting officer representations– pages 15 to 21 • Section 4: TRA documents – pages 22 to 183 5 • Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 184 to 189 • Section 6: Notice of Meeting – page 190 to 191 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 Ms Broad- Reeder on 13 January 2025, and subsequently signed by the presenting officer on 17 January 2025. 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 Ms Broad-Reeder 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. Ms Broad-Reeder commenced employment at St Thomas More Catholic High School (‘the School’), on the 1 January 2022. Ms Broad-Reeder was a supply teacher covering for Pupil A’s form tutor at the School, until Pupil A left the School in July 2022. Ms Broad-Reeder left her employment at the School and commenced employment at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy (‘the Academy’), on the 5 September 2022. Pupil A started at [REDACTED] and disclosed that he and Ms Broad-Reeder had been messaging via WhatsApp and met up on one or more occasions between and/or around September 2022 and January 2024. The matter was referred to the TRA on the 8 April 2024, by the Academy. 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: 6 1. Between and/or around September 2022 and January 2024, you had an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A, a pupil you taught at your former employer St Thomas More School, in that while Pupil A was under 18, you: a) Arranged to meet and/or met outside of school; The panel considered the statement of agreed facts, signed by Ms Broad-Reeder on 13 January 2025. In this statement of agreed facts, Ms Broad-Reeder admitted the particulars of allegations 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c). Notwithstanding this, the panel made a determination based on the facts available to it. The panel considered the notes of Pupil A’s disclosure, dated 27 February 2024. The notes stated that Pupil A had said whilst he was at the School, he became close with a supply teacher who was covering for his form tutor, and they remained in touch after she left the School. The notes stated that Pupil A said he met up with Ms Broad-Reeder on numerous occasions, going for a meal, to an art gallery and the cinema. The panel also considered an email sent by Ms Broad-Reeder to Kingsley Napley, in which she stated she “[…] did meet up with the student to attend various films, plays, Art exhibitions and concerts[…]”. The panel found that it was inappropriate for Ms Broad-Reeder to meet and/or to arrange to meet Pupil A in these circumstances. The panel found allegation 1(a) proven. b) Exchanged telephone numbers; c) Exchanged messages of a personal nature. The panel considered screenshots of WhatsApp messages between Ms Broad-Reeder and Pupil A. The panel noted the following messages from Ms Broad-Reeder to Pupil A in particular: • “[…]Just this very moment, I realise what it is I feel for you. It is love – a love of who I used to be and who I longed for when I was young – which was you.[…]” (47) • “[…]Btw- the deep connection is rare- I don’t have it with [Person B] but I still married him- I didn’t settle, he was just ‘right’. But what I have with you, is what I’ve spent my whole life believing in- I just expected it to be with someone of a similar age.[…]” (54) • “[…]I think you are stunning – I didn’t see your masculinity at school – I do now, I think you dress beautifully.[…]” (54) 7 • “[…]I see you as a very close friend/ soul mate, but I definitely don’t think some people would see it like that. As if you’d be interested in my historical sex life anyway!!![…]” (56) • “[…]She thinks I’m in love with you. What do you think?...You are just my soul mate.[…]” (58) • “Miss you x” (60) • “I miss our chats. It feels like it was something I’d dreamt. Surreal and beautiful – but I’m left with a howling emptiness in believing everything you said […]” (60) • “[…]I know I can’t change how I feel and know nothing can come of it because of the huge age gap, (that’s if you do feel the same way).[…]” (61) • “No matter what you say. You are the other half of me and I am the other half of you. We both feel it. – not just me. Otherwise everything you’ve said is a lie and I don’t believe that. You are so kind and selfless. Thank you. I know you.” (72) The panel noted the picture of prose written by Ms Broad-Reeder and sent to Pupil A, reading: “Her fingers stretched out tentatively, each one searching, humming with awareness and fear. A whisper of a touch. So gentle-almost invisible, like soft voile moving in a summer breeze, leaving a burning on her fingertips, their whorls scolded by his skin. Still trembling, she reached out again. This time three finger tips found him, traced the outline of his cheek, the soft stubble with smooth. How beautiful. How achingly beautiful. In her head, she drew a map of him, memorising him as each finger discovered new land: The angles of his chin, the sweep of his jaw, the soft dip around his nostrils, the ridge of his nose. Up, up to the fragile delicateness of his eye lids, the skin almost transparent; the fine, blue etchings of his life gracing the surface. Her fingers talked to her soul, saying ‘remember, remember’ as she softly journeyed over the warmth of his skin. The fear beat loudly in her ears and her whole body felt alive and sick and wonderful at the same time. Her fingers burnt still. Down, down to the shallow furrow above his lips. 8 Fear made her tremble and she stopped, her heart thudding and she thought she might stop beathing. Dizzy, and shaking she continued, tracing the outline of the blush pink swellings, reading his lips like braille. Her breath caught as his lips opened slightly and she saw the ivory of his teeth, her finger tips bare[ly] touching the surface. Fear and the need colliding. She stood back and looked at him in wonder, searched his dark eyes, aski