Overview
- Andrew Bennington, 52, who taught at Scarborough Sixth Form College, has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely.
- A Teaching Regulation Agency panel ruled his messages were sexual, breached professional boundaries, and posed a risk of repetition with no demonstrated remorse.
- Police alerted the college, triggering an internal inquiry during which he resigned before a disciplinary process and referral to the regulator.
- Examples cited included a winking emoji and messages such as “I’ve my iPad for general internet porn” and “You 18 now?”, with contact beginning during enrollment and escalating after the student left.
- The student reported feeling uncomfortable and reluctant to attend class and later blocked him, while the panel decided the case without a formal hearing at his request before the Education Secretary confirmed the prohibition.