Rainworth school teacher who let pupil sleep overnight banned

Hellen Maiden admitted unacceptable professional conduct while teaching at Joseph Whitaker School in 2015

A teacher who allowed a pupil to sleep overnight at her home and sent inappropriate text messages to her has been banned from the profession.

Hellen Maiden, 49, has admitted unacceptable professional conduct while teaching at Joseph Whitaker School, in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, in 2015.

A panel heard she also held the pupil's hand and purchased gifts for her.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) said Mrs Maiden was prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

Mrs Maiden started working at the school in September 2013 as a newly qualified teacher.

The disciplinary panel heard concerns were brought to the school's attention in June 2016 and she was suspended the following month.

She was arrested on 18 July 2016 after letters from Mrs Maiden to the pupil were discovered but the police took no further action, the TRA said.

That September Mrs Maiden resigned and in January 2017 she was referred to the TRA.

In a report published this November, the TRA heard she "failed to maintain proper professional boundaries" and "developed an inappropriate relationship" with the pupil, who had "vulnerabilities".

On more than one occasion she allowed the pupil to babysit at her home and sleep overnight.

Mrs Maiden also gave her personal number to the pupil and sent "inappropriate text messages" which "referenced sexual language and suggestive behaviour".

'Misconduct at the serious end of spectrum'

The panel was also told she slept in the same room as the pupil around July 2015, and wrote inappropriate letters which included that she loved and missed the pupil, and mentioned "snuggles", stroking her wrist, touching her cheek, and holding her in her arms.

She also held the pupil's hand, purchased gifts including for Christmas and birthdays, and secured sponsorship money for her.

The disciplinary panel heard the the student's parents had expressed concerns about the relationship.

The report added: "Whilst it was not alleged that Mrs Maiden's actions were sexually motivated, at the very least they presented a risk of feelings of dependency on the part of the pupil and a clear risk that her actions may not have been in the pupil's best interests."

The panel said "this was misconduct at the serious end of spectrum, particularly having regard to the absence of insight, regret and remorse on the part of Mrs Maiden".

The former teacher also dishonestly told the school she was unable to work for three days in July 2015 because she was at a funeral and then ill, when she was attending an event with the pupil.

She continued contacting the pupil during her suspension, despite being advised not to.

Mrs Maiden admitted all of the allegations and agreed her behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct which may bring the profession into disrepute.

The investigation concluded Mrs Maiden cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England indefinitely.

"In view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Mrs Maiden shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach," said the report.

The Joseph Whitaker School and East Midlands Education Trust said in a joint statement an investigation was "immediately undertaken" by the previous head teacher as soon as the school became aware of concerns.

They said: "The matter was investigated by the police, the local authority designated officer and our own designated safeguarding lead. Referrals were then made to all the relevant authorities and agencies.

"The school would seek to reassure all parents/carers of students within our care that we take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously, hence the action which was taken at the time."