Teacher banned over 'paternal' pupil relationship

The physics teacher at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School was suspended after the allegations came to light

A teacher who kissed a student in a “fatherly” manner on a camping trip has been banned from the profession.

A Teaching Regulation Agency panel found that while there had been no sexual motive to Simon Mumford's actions, he had failed to "maintain appropriate boundaries" with the girl, referred to as Pupil A.

It heard the 55-year-old, the girl and another adult, referred to as Individual A, went on an overnight trip to Priests Hole Cave in the Lake District in June 2021, where he was said to have tapped the girl's leg, kissed her cheek and put his arm around her shoulder.

The Clitheroe Royal Grammar School physics teacher told the panel he had made a "huge error of judgement" and a "wholly misguided" attempt to support a pupil.

In a written statement, the girl said it was during a period of lockdown in the Covid-19 pandemic when Mr Mumford gave her the "idea" that she should go on a camping trip with her family, before suggesting he could take her.

She said he told her that he wanted to show her "the views" and what it was like to "experience sleeping under the stars".

She added that her parents gave her permission to go on the trip but only on the condition another person also went and she had then travelled with Mr Mumford to the camping location, where they met with Individual A and set up camp.

Simon Mumford was a physics teacher Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

The panel found that "under no circumstances, should Mr Mumford have arranged a personal camping trip outside of the school setting" and in doing so, he "encouraged a relationship which went beyond a professional teacher and pupil relationship".

It heard the pair also messaged each other online out of school hours, when Mr Mumford had "encouraged an inappropriately personal discussion".

In her spoken evidence, Pupil A said Mr Mumford had kissed her cheek twice on the camping trip in a "fatherly" manner, rather than romantically, had told her "I love you" before each kiss and had placed his arm around her shoulder after she had leaned against him.

The panel found such contact would be "inappropriate in all circumstances" and the two "brief but distinct" taps to her leg were not "inadvertent or accidental".

It added that the "evidence, when viewed as a whole, indicated that the conduct, albeit inappropriate, was in the context of a "paternal" relationship".

Mr Mumford told the panel he had made a “huge error of judgement” but did not act because of any sexual motivation.

He said it was a "wholly misguided" attempt to support a pupil.

Considering its recommendation, the panel stated there was "no evidence that Mr Mumford's actions were not deliberate", but the conduct took place "during a time of emotional distress" and there was no sexual motivation to his actions.

It said he had been "struggling with significant personal issues... which remain ongoing to some extent" and Mr Mumford had described his own behaviour at the time as "impulsive and irrational".

It said character evidence indicated Mr Mumford had been "a committed teacher, who was passionate about his subject", and he had stated he was "very sorry in respect of the incident and also of the impact it had on Pupil A".

Issuing an indefinite ban, barring Mr Mumford from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England, the panel said he could apply for the order to be set aside in September 2026.

Clarification 21/1/25: This story has been updated to further reflect the findings of the panel in regards to Mr Mumford's relationship with Pupil A.