Ban for music teacher who touched pupils' legs

Derek Hoyle worked at Gildersome Primary School in West Yorkshire

A music teacher has been banned from the profession after a misconduct panel found he had inappropriately touched two female pupils.

Derek Hoyle, who worked at Gildersome Primary School, in Morley, West Yorkshire, touched both girls on or around the knee on separate occasions during lessons, the panel was told.

The incidents happened between September 2020 and October 2022, though the the panel found no evidence that the touching was sexually motivated.

Mr Hoyle, 63, who did not attend the Teaching Regulation Agency hearing, denied the incidents, alleging the pupils had a "vendetta" against him.

The hearing, which took place on 10 June, was told one of the pupils said Mr Hoyle had "placed his hand on her thigh" and "squeezed her leg".

She said he had "touched her leg two or three times in one-to-one music lessons" and that this had happened after she had stopped sharing lessons with another pupil.

Denials 'vague and contradictory'

Giving evidence in interviews before the hearing, Mr Hoyle denied the incident had happened.

However, the panel said it found his answers to questions "vague and contradictory".

It concluded his denial he had "never touched" the girl was at odds with his admission he regularly "incidentally" touched pupils during the course of his teaching, either when putting up music stands or to help them make adjustments with their instruments.

Mr Hoyle also denied claims he had touched the second pupil's leg and face during lessons, which it was said had made the girl feel "uncomfortable".

The panel was told the music teacher claimed both girls had invented the allegations in a bid to get out of music lessons.

However, in interviews he had earlier suggested the second pupil was a "very pleasant girl" and "really attentive" which the panel noted was a "contradiction" in his evidence.

In its conclusions the panel said Mr Hoyle "had shown minimal, if any, insight into his actions" and that "this was particularly clear from his attempts to discredit the pupils by alleging that they had a vendetta against him".

It banned Mr Hoyle from teaching indefinitely, although he can apply to have the order lifted after two years.

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