A teacher who works at a prestigious boarding school with an annual fee of £46,000 has been prohibited from teaching following allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a teenage student. James Samson, aged 46 and a father of two, was responsible for geography classes and served as a form tutor at Luckley House School in Berkshire.
The messages sent by Samson to the student included statements like, “Shame I couldn’t get you back into my cupboard… To find a folder [with a winky face]” and “I was just looking at you and not listening to [Person X] anyway.” Additionally, Samson invited the student to his room for revision, expressing enjoyment in her presence.
Throughout the investigation, it was revealed that Samson had been communicating with the pupil via WhatsApp, email, and text messages outside of school hours, including late at night and even on holidays, contrary to school regulations. The student described the messages as strange and not typical of a teacher, causing her discomfort and uncertainty about the intentions behind them.
Following raised concerns and a subsequent investigation, Samson was dismissed from the school approximately a month later. Witnesses stated that the messages exchanged between Samson and the student spanned over 40 pages, with one witness suggesting it showed early signs of grooming behavior.
The disciplinary panel found that Samson had breached boundaries by obtaining the student’s phone number and engaging in inappropriate communication. The panel concluded that his actions were highly inappropriate and significantly deviated from professional standards. The school’s policy strictly prohibits staff from sharing personal contact information with students and communicating with them through unofficial channels.
In light of these findings, the panel determined that Samson’s behavior constituted serious misconduct that fell below the expected standards of the teaching profession. The panel’s report emphasized the gravity of the situation and the severe departure from professional conduct exhibited by Samson.