Teacher fired for ‘sleepover’ at his ex-pupil’s home

AN ETHICS teacher was sacked after having a sleepover at a sixth former’s home just weeks after she had left school.

An employment tribunal heard Eddie Adams visited the 18-year- old’s house ten times as he helped her with university applications.

It came just months after he was warned for spending ‘ all lunchtime’ with her and putting clips in her hair. The ‘seriously misguided’ teacher thought he was doing a ‘commendable’ thing by using his spare time to help his former pupil.

When the college received an anonymous tip-off about his visits to a house, an investigation was launched and Adams was sacked for gross misconduct.

He took his employers to court claiming unfair dismissal – but a judge has dismissed his claims.

The tribunal heard Adams, who is in his thirties, started working as a teacher at Bilborough Sixth Form College in Nottingham in 2014. In 2018, the geography teacher became the course leader for ethics and philosophy.

But in March 2020, a female colleague raised concerns that Adams was ‘crossing professional boundaries’ in relation to a female pupil, referred to only as person B.

Adams denied these concerns but ‘ recognised’ he needed to alter his behaviour to ensure he ‘was not perceived to be socialising with students’. He reminded himself of the safeguarding guidelines and no disciplinary action was taken then.

In the summer of 2020, person B left the college and asked Adams ‘for some guidance’ in helping her get into university.

Adams did not tell the college about this, despite it being ‘well known amongst teachers that visits should not normally be made to pupils’ homes’.

Between August and October 2020, Adams visited the house on ten occasions, and he once ‘inadvertently’ fell asleep by himself on the sofa.

The panel ruled that while it was ‘clear’ that Adams and person B had a close relationship, there was ‘no evidence it was inappropriate’.

After being interviewed in May last year, Adams wrote to the investigating college: ‘With the benefit of hindsight, I exer

‘Seriously misguided’

cised my judgment in a way that has subsequently been deemed to be out of line with college expectations.

‘I apologise unreservedly for this and I am keen to avoid future issues from arising.’

At an appeal hearing, where Adams said he had not told anyone at the college about his ‘inadvertent sleepover’, the original decision was upheld.

Employment judge Kirsty Ayre did conclude, however, that Adams should not have been dismissed ‘ without notice’ and should have been paid in this period.