Teacher asked ex-pupil for photos of her in bath

An assistant headteacher who asked a former pupil to send him pictures of her in the bath while also quizzing her about her sex life has been struck off.

Michael Lee, who worked at Swaffham Bulbeck Church of England Primary School, in Cambridge, was banned from teaching after a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct hearing.

The 39-year-old was found to have failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, having sent "patently sexual" messages to the ex-student.

After ruling his conduct could be "characterised as sexual misconduct involving a child", it was decided Mr Lee should never be permitted to reapply to be a teacher.

Mr Lee, who worked at the school from 2016 until 2020, was first subject to an internal disciplinary process in relation to the incident back in 2017.

He was initially given a written warning, but the matter was revisited after the school joined the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust (DEMAT), which referred it to the TRA in 2019.

During the hearing, the panel was told how Mr Lee, also a designated safeguarding lead at the time, had become friends with the former pupil on Facebook.

In May 2017, he described her as "stunning" and engaged in conversations with her about her romantic relationship with her boyfriend, asking if they had slept together.

He also told her that "he didn't deserve" to be with her and attempted to add the ex-student on the image-swapping social media platform, Snapchat.

On another occasion, while she was in the bath, Mr Lee asked her to send him pictures, before also requesting a photo of her when he knew she was in bed.

Mr Lee described his conduct as "horrendous" and acknowledged he had made a "grave error" but said he did not believe he should be prevented from teaching.

The panel concluded his actions were of a "sexual nature" and amounted to unacceptable professional conduct which may bring the profession into disrepute.

He was banned indefinitely.

Bosses at the (DEMAT) said the safety of pupils will always be its main priority.

A spokesperson said: "After Swaffham Bulbeck joined DEMAT as an academy, the trust was made aware of a previous safeguarding issue relating to this individual, and immediately sought professional advice.

"As a result of this, the individual was then referred to the authorities, which led to the decision that the matter should be considered at a TRA hearing.

"We have updated our community and assured them that the safety of our pupils is, and always will be, our top priority.

"We will always do everything we can to ensure children are safe, happy and able to fulfil their potential."

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