Ex-Wells Cathedral School teacher banned after having sex with pupil

Mr Swarfield was suspended by Wells Cathedral School

An ex-teacher has been banned from the profession after having sex with a pupil.

Martin Swarfield, 46, who taught at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset, has been barred indefinitely by the Teacher's Regulation Authority (TRA).

He was arrested at the school after the pupil, referred to as Pupil A, made a complaint to the police.

Headteacher Alistair Tighe said Mr Swarfield had shown "a deplorable breach of expected standards".

Mr Swarfield resigned in February 2018 after disciplinary meetings, according to a TRA misconduct report.

The panel found he had breached standards and his actions were "calculated and sexually motivated".

In November 2022, Mr Swarfied wrote in an email that he had "heartbreakingly admitted" bringing the profession into disrepute and now has responsibilities away from education so that he can support his family, the report said.

Bought pupil jewellery

Wells Cathedral School is an independent day and boarding school which caters for pupils from nursery age to sixth form.

Annual fees for its education services range from £9,336 to £24,558 without weekly and full boarding.

With a history stretching back to 909 AD, it is thought to be the oldest school in the West Country and among the oldest in Europe.

Mr Swarfield was employed at the school for 13 years.

During a school trip, he drank alcohol with pupils and took a cigarette from Pupil A and smoked it, bought Pupil A jewellery, and repeatedly hugged and kissed her, the report said.

At one point when other pupils attempted to intervene, Mr Swarfield told them he had not been very well.

The document added he told Pupil A while travelling home from the school trip that it cannot happen again, and his job and family would be in jeopardy if it ever came out.

Mr Swarfield has been banned from the profession forever

Weeks after the school trip finished, he made numerous attempts to meet her and had sex with her.

He then told a different pupil he would deny what had happened if it came to light and that the pupil should do the same.

A safeguarding investigation was carried out by school, including interviews with students and staff.

A month later, Pupil A made a complaint to the school and he was arrested and then suspended.

Mr Swarfield received a conditional caution on 27 March 2020 from the police in relation to harassment of Pupil A.

'Total lack of integrity'

Wells Cathedral School's headteacher Alastair Tighe said in a statement: "The findings reflect a deplorable breach of expected standards and a total lack of integrity on the part of Mr Swarfield, who had already lost his job and received a conditional caution from the police as a result of his actions.

"We strive to safeguard and protect all of our pupils from harm. We are determined to do what we can to support those affected by Mr Swarfield's actions and to ensure that nothing like this happens again.

"The school is never complacent, and we will reflect further as a result the panel's report."

The TRA panel also ruled Mr Swarfield cannot apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

The report, signed by Sarah Buxsey as the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State, concluded: "In my judgement, the lack of full insight or remorse means there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.

"I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision."

Mr Swarfield has the right to appeal the decision, the report added.