By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A science teacher who formed inappropriate relationships with three pupils, telling one she had a ‘lovely figure’, has avoided a classroom ban after a regulator ruled his motives were not sexual.
A Teaching Regulation Agency panel examined the conduct of Guy Remon while teaching at Bramcote College, Broxtowe, in 2017. He no longer works at the school.
The hearing was also told he sent 35 emails to one of the pupils in one day, and continued to contact her months after being told to stop.
However the regulator has now ruled his behaviour was not sexually-motivated, and decided not to formally ban him from teaching.
Appearing at the tribunal, Mr Remon said he was trying to boost the pupil’s self-esteem, and he regretted the language he had used.
He joined the college as a science teacher in 2015, and resigned in 2019.
The hearing into his conduct was held last month, and a report of the panel’s decision was made public on November 3.
The report describes how the panel was shown letters to a girl identified only as ‘Pupil A’ which frequently complimented her appearance.
In one, he said “you say you’ve got no bum or tits but you have a lovely figure“, which he explained was a “rather stupid and naïve” way to boost her confidence.
Copies of the letters were provided to the police, although they decided no action should be taken.
On another occasion, he sent another girl, known as Pupil B, a handwritten note referring to her being at risk of self-harm or suicide, but did not raise it as a safeguarding concern.
The panel also heard he sent an “excessive” number of emails to Pupil C during the 2017 summer holidays – including 35 messages in a single day.
Despite being told to gradually end email contact, it later emerged he was still emailing her in November the same year.
The panel noted that he was never overtly sexual towards any of the pupils. He also never met with the pupils outside of school or contacted them on social media.
“Whilst Mr Remon had undoubtedly breached professional boundaries, which he fully accepted, the panel was not persuaded that Mr Remon’s conduct was sexually motivated,” it concluded.
It added he had “learnt important lessons” and was unlikely to make the same mistakes again.
The panel said while the conduct was “highly inappropriate”, it was misconceived and not malicious.
The report adds: “This was not a pre-determined course of conduct but rather a gradual eroding of boundaries that reached the point where Mr Remon’s role become blurred and had personal elements.”
In making a final decision, Marc Cavey, chief executive of the TRA, said while Mr Remon had breached professional boundaries, which he accepted, he should not be banned from teaching because he had shown remorse and was unlikely to repeat the behaviour.
Mr Cavey wrote: “In my judgment, the degree of remorse and insight demonstrated by Mr Remon means that there is a likely to be a minimal risk of these behaviours being repeated in the future. I have, therefore, given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.”
Mr Remon was suspended by the school in November 2017 due to concerns about his communications with all three pupils.
He was allowed to return to work in January 2018 with certain conditions following a disciplinary hearing.
He moved to work in New Zealand at the end of 2019. However, Pupil A had come forward with more letters from him just before he left, and a fresh investigation meant Mr Remon had to leave his new teaching position there.
Mr Remon did not responded to requests for comment following the publishing of the outcome of the tribunal.
Bramcote College is an academy, and is part of White Hills Park Trust.
A trust spokesperson said: “We are aware that a former teacher at Bramcote College was the subject of a professional conduct panel hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency, relating to his conduct whilst a teacher at the College.
“The incidents took place in 2017. When evidence of potential misconduct emerged, the school immediately reported it to the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) and carried out a disciplinary process.
“We subsequently referred the case to the TRA. The teacher no longer works at the school or within the Trust.
“The safety of our pupils is of paramount importance to us, and we always act upon concerns raised. We have no further comment to make at this time.”
