Kentish Express Ashford & District
Banned from teaching over semi-naked photos
Former PE teacher censured for inappropriate behaviour
A teacher has been banned from working in any school for at least three years after sending “sexually motivated” messages to a former pupil.
Christopher Tinsley taught PE at Brockhill Park school in Sandling Road, Saltwood, Hythe, from August 2007 to November 2015, when he resigned.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership made the decision on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education at a hearing on Tuesday, March 7.
The report, published this week, heard Tinsley, 32, sent pictures of himself “seminaked” and wearing “only a towel around his waist.”
He also made “inappropriate contact” with her on Instagram, calling her “a gorgeous young woman” and asking her to send a picture of herself in a sports shirt and long socks.
Evidence showed that his messages asked the pupil if she ever fancied him and whether she had a “soft spot” for him.
He admitted these accusations but denied patting her on the bottom with his clipboard and calling her “beautiful” when she was in Year 9 and 10.
These allegations were withdrawn as they were not proven due to a lack of evidence.
Tinsley, who lives in Kingsnorth, Ashford, studied at Canterbury Christ Church University and worked on a placement at John Wallis School in Ashford for a school year between 2006 and 2007, when it was known as Christ Church school.
After moving to Brockhill, Tinsley was promoted to head of PE on June 1, 2013 and the following year received a writ- ten warning “relating to the manner in which he spoke to a member of staff supporting a vulnerable student”.
In October 2015, the allegation was made that Tinsley had sent messages via social media to a former pupil of the school.
On November 2 of that year he was suspended and a disciplinary investigation went ahead with him being interviewed at the school on November 9.
By November 12 he resigned as head of department and as a teacher and left Brockhill.