Teacher banned for sexual harassment of colleagues

George Vandenberg taught at St Paul’s Catholic School, Sunbury-on-Thames, from 2017 to 2021

A teacher has been banned for unwanted physical contact which amounted to sexual harassment against two female colleagues.

George Vandenberg was a science teacher at St Paul’s Catholic School, Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, from 2017 to 2021.

In a Teacher’s Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing, he was found to have behaved “unacceptably” in connection with repetitive actions that were “not accidental”.

A spokesperson for St Paul’s Catholic College said: “At no time were there any child protection concerns relating to the incident.”

The TRA panel found Mr Vandenberg had sexually harassed two of his colleagues on two different social occasions outside of work after drinking excessively.

The primary incident happened at a work social in a bar in Putney in 2021.

The report said: “Whilst all other staff members in attendance were consuming alcohol, Mr Vandenberg had consumed so much alcohol that he was acting in an incoherent way, eventually passing out.”

The school said there was "no child protection concerns"

The report cited Colleague A who described how she was left alone with Mr Vandenberg and tried to ask if he was okay before he started acting inappropriately towards her.

He was found to have touched and rubbed Colleague A’s crotch, touched her chest and told her he wanted to have sex with her.

According to the report, Colleague A said she had tried to downplay the comments at the time and stepped away from him. She said his conduct had caused her long term effect of feeling sad and anxious.

Mr Vandenberg told the panel he had a “memory black out” and denied the allegations.

'Overly handsy'

Another member of staff - Colleague C - alleged Mr Vandenberg had acted inappropriately towards her in a pub in 2018 where he appeared to be visibly drunk.

Colleague C said Mr Vandenberg had been “overly handsy” and said he made “inappropriate sexual comments” towards her.

Despite her telling him she was uncomfortable and not interested in his advances, he continued.

Mr Vandenberg said he did not recall the incident with Colleague C.

'Formal investigation'

Although he denied the allegations, the report said Mr Vandenberg immediately understood his conduct was unacceptable, describing it as “disgusting”.

Citing his behaviour had undermined his professional relationships, he resigned in December 2021.

The panel concluded that his behaviour, whilst taking place outside of an educational setting, negatively impacted the way he fulfilled his teaching role.

Following the hearing, he has been struck off from the teaching profession and his case will be reviewed in two years.

The St Paul’s Catholic College spokesperson said: “Once the allegations were brought to the school’s attention, he was suspended whilst a formal investigation took place, with guidance taken from relevant agencies.”