Teacher who had sex with pupil in classroom banned

Former music teacher Darryll Prew has been banned from the profession for life and will not be able to reapply to teach

A former music teacher who admitted to having sex with a pupil in a classroom has been banned from teaching indefinitely.

Darryll Prew was a piano teacher at a school in Walsall when allegations of sexual misconduct relating to his time at a different school two decades earlier emerged.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel heard Mr Prew had engaged in sexual activity with Pupil A in classrooms, in a field and his car, as well at the pupil's home and on a school trip abroad.

He was jailed for two years and four months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years in November 2022.

'Long lasting impact'

In a statement of agreed facts, Mr Prew admitted six counts of abusing a position of trust and having sexual intercourse with a child in or around 2001.

In November 2021 he had been teaching at Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall when it was made aware of allegations relating to his previous school.

Mr Prew resigned from his role at the school in July 2022.

He pleaded guilty to the offences at a court hearing in October 2022, the panel said.

A TRA hearing on 6 August found his conduct had a "long-lasting impact" on Pupil A as could be seen in their victim impact statement and that behaviour involved in committing the offence had an impact on the safety and security of pupils.

Mr Prew had also engaged in sexual activity with Pupil A including during school hours and on the school premises, the panel said.

It was noted that Mr Prew had pleaded guilty and there was no suggestion that the nature of the offending had continued going forwards, with a large number of references provided acknowledging that he had been a "significant positive benefit" to his community since the offending.

However, the panel concluded that his behaviour would likely affect public confidence in the profession, should he be allowed to continue teaching.

Mr Prew's behaviour had "fundamentally breached" the standard of conduct expected of a teacher, it added.

The TRA concluded that implementing a prohibition order was "proportionate" and in the public interest.

The ban means that Mr Prew cannot teach in any school, sixth-form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

He will also not be able to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.