Teacher at private schools groomed girls as young as 12
A TEACHER at a private school groomed a 12-year-old pupil – then moved schools and started a relationship with another girl.
Nathan Waring had a sexual relationship with the first child at a school in Eastbourne before being appointed director of music at £34,000-a-year Gresham’s School in Norfolk.
The 37-year- old, who has appeared on Songs Of Praise, exchanged sex texts with Pupil A before this developed to kissing her and giving her massages.
Waring later touched her ‘including under her clothes over her underwear’.
Details of the relationship emerged only after the married father of two had moved to Gresham’s. The school suspended him, but after an investigation, allowed him back with a written warning and a set of strict rules about behaviour with pupils. However, Waring was ‘flirtatious’ with another girl, Pupil B, who was attending a music course – and lied about taking time off so he could meet up with her.
He was also caught drink-driving on his way back from seeing Pupil B, for which he was later convicted.
Waring, a composer and organist who has worked with the likes of Ronnie Corbett in theatres, has now been banned from the classroom for life by the National College for Teaching and Leadership after Pupil A’s diaries were found detailing his behaviour.
He first sent messages of ‘a sexual nature’ to Pupil A in 2004, while working at £20,000a-year St Bede’s School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
At the height of the relationship in September 2006, the girl, by then 13, had left to go to another school. But he continued to contact her.
In January 2008, Pupil A told her tutor something had happened between her and a teacher. That month Waring took the job at Gresham’s.
John Armstrong, chairman of the NCTL professional conduct panel, said: ‘In May 2009 Mr Waring was provided with a
‘Sexually motivated’
written set of rules and guidelines by the headteacher … regarding his behaviour with students. This instruction was allegedly ignored by Mr Waring in 2011 and again in 2015 with Pupil B.’
Waring, who did not attend the hearing, resigned from Gresham’s in October 2015.
The panel said Pupil A’s diaries proved the sexual relationship was real. They found Waring’s behaviour was ‘harmful’.
Approving the ban on the Education Secretary’s behalf, Dawn Dandy agreed Waring’s actions were ‘sexually motivated’ and his attitude was ‘deep-seated … and dishonest’.
Ros Nairne, of St Bede’s, said: ‘The protection of children is our highest priority and robust procedures are in place to deal with these situations.’
Gresham’s did not respond to requests for comment.