Female teacher banned after messaging 16-year-old

A primary school teacher has been banned indefinitely from teaching after a panel found she sent a message of a sexual nature to a 16-year-old.

Sarah Aldridge, 50, a former teacher at Abington Vale Primary School in Northampton, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found that in 2016 Aldridge sent messages to "one or more children who she knew or ought to have known were around 16 years old".

The behaviour of Aldridge, who denied the allegations, was also found to be sexually motivated.

In its report, the TRA panel said Aldridge claimed only one of the messages had been sent by her and that she did so while under "extreme duress".

However, the panel said there was no credible evidence of duress and concluded the message had been sent deliberately.

Other allegations involving further messages and an image were not proven.

Aldridge, who worked at the school from 2014, was suspended on 23 August 2018 after safeguarding concerns were raised.

Northamptonshire Police began an investigation and referred the matter to the TRA, and no further action was taken by the police.

In its report, the panel said "the safeguarding of children by teachers is of the utmost importance" and that Aldridge's actions, including failing to report the message for between 18 and 24 months, "amounted to serious and significant misconduct".

It added that although the allegation "took place outside the education setting" it was relevant to Aldridge's position as a teacher.

Aldridge was banned from teaching with immediate effect, with a review period of two years.

The panel said she was prohibited from teaching indefinitely and could not teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.

The order can be appealed, but not until 2027 at the earliest.

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