‘Excellent’ teacher is thrown out of profession

GRAMMAR SCHOOL LEADER BANNED FOR LIFE AFTER PANEL RULES HE TOUCHED WOMAN’S BREASTS WHILE ‘EXTREMELY DRUNK’

A TEACHER has been banned for life after a misconduct panel heard claims he touched a woman’s breasts.

Andrew Parkinson was described as an excellent teacher and respected subject leader at a West Yorkshire Grammar School where he worked as director of learning for maths and technology.

A teaching conduct panel was told that in 2018 Mr Parkinson had touched a woman’s breasts, another part of her body, and kissed the side of her face without her consent.

Mr Parkinson, 41, was described as being ‘extremely drunk’ at the time.

It is claimed that he had told the woman she had a “nice set of boobs”.

Mr Parkinson denied anything had happened. He did not attend the hearing and was not represented.

The hearing was told that police had decided to take no further action against him.

A police officer confirmed to the panel that because the CPS had decided not to proceed, this did not mean that the alleged incident had not occurred.

The misconduct panel found the allegations proven and that Mr Parkinson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

In a statement, Mr Parkinson submitted that, since resigning from his role at the school in January 2019, he has “suffered severe emotional consequences.”

Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State, prohibited Mr Parkinson from teaching indefinitely.

He said: “The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of sexual misconduct on the part of a teacher.”