Deputy head banned from teaching for life after sexual relationship with teen

30 December 2023 , 12:15

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Rebecca Smith, 41, engaged in a sexual relationship with a former pupil (Image: TIM EASTHOPE/BIRMINGHAM MAIL)

A deputy headteacher who was seen "sharing a bed, drinking cocktails and holding hands with a teenage girl" has been banned from teaching for life.

Rebecca Smith, who worked at Lyndon School in Solihull, West Midlands, engaged in a sexual relationship with a former pupil after exchanging phone numbers. The 41-year-old invited the student on a school trip when she was under 18 and hid her presence from all those involved, a misconduct panel heard.

During the trip between May and June 2017, she shared a room with the girl, held hands, rubbed suncream on her back, bought alcohol for her on various occasions and slept with her head on her lap on the coach trip home. When the coaches returned to the school, the ex-pupil had got off half a mile earlier so she would not be seen by the head teacher. At a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing, decision maker Marc Cavey said the nature of the allegations against Ms Smith were so serious, the ban will be indefinite.

Addressing the panel, the ex-student said the deputy headteacher asked for her phone number in May 2016 when she was still at the school. Around the time of a school prom in June 2016, the student also added Ms Smith on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, reports BirminghamLive.

By December 2016, when she had left the school, their relationship had become sexual - but she was still aged 17 at the time. During their relationship, Ms Smith bought her gifts, including clothing and a phone, took her out for dinner, told her that she 'loved' her and paid for trips for her.

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She also allowed the girl to visit her home address - even giving her keys to the flat. The relationship, during which Ms Smith called her 'sexy' and 'boo' in messages, lasted until January 2018. The panel ruled that Smith's actions were sexually motivated and that she acted dishonestly while denying any wrongdoing and refusing to accept responsibility for her actions.

She was in a position of trust, was a role model and had shown no remorse, the panel said. Ms Smith had worked at the school for nine years before concerns arose in 2016 about her relationship with the girl, who left after being in Year 11. The police investigated but took no further action and in July 2018 Smith was referred to the TRA by the school.

Stephanie Balloo