Why was Andrew Bennington banned from teaching?

Andrew Bennington was banned indefinitely for sending inappropriate sexual messages to a student via social media and apps.

What did the teacher admit to doing?

The teacher admitted to sending sexual messages and stated he was 'fishing' to gauge the student's interest.

Can Andrew Bennington teach again?

No, Andrew Bennington has been banned indefinitely and cannot apply for restoration of his teaching eligibility.

Home / Education / Teacher Banned Indefinitely for Sexual Messages to Student

Teacher Banned Indefinitely for Sexual Messages to Student

14 Dec

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Summary

Teacher sent sexual messages to a student via social media and apps.
He admitted to 'fishing' to see if the student was interested.
The teacher is banned indefinitely and cannot reapply for eligibility.

Teacher Banned Indefinitely for Sexual Messages to Student

Andrew Bennington, a 52-year-old teacher at Scarborough Sixth Form College, has received an indefinite ban from teaching. This severe action follows his admission of sending messages of a sexual nature to a student, both while they attended the college and after their departure. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found his conduct fell significantly short of professional standards, deeming it misconduct of a serious nature.

During an investigation, Mr. Bennington stated he was 'fishing' to ascertain the student's interest, a sentiment echoed in messages. He admitted to sending inappropriate content and 'unsending' some after realizing his error. The former student reported feeling uncomfortable, having previously blocked Mr. Bennington after receiving a strange message. Despite admitting fault and expressing embarrassment, a TRA panel noted a lack of understanding regarding professional boundaries.