Ban for ex-Penketh High School teacher over kisses to pupil on email

Laura Martland had been employed at Penketh High School since March 2007 as a science teacher, but she was dismissed by the school for misconduct in September 2021.

The 39-year-old was the subject of a Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel hearing in January, which she did not attend, with the report published today, Monday.

The panel ruled that she had demonstrated ‘unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute’.

The report reads that on June 10, 2021, Martland contacted an individual, referred to as Witness A and informed her that she was concerned about female Pupil A.

As the school had concerns about Martland not providing all the emails she exchanged with Pupil A, the school suspended her the following day pending an investigation.

During the investigation, the school gained access to both Martland and Pupil A’s email accounts.

It was noted that the email exchanges had taken place over a number of months, initially school related, but developing to a personal nature over time, sent at all hours of the day and night, including during the school day, at weekend and holidays.

Between March to June 2021, the emails covered a number of topics including personal matters shared by both Martland and Pupil A.

Of concern, Pupil A had made disclosures to her which included underage drinking.

It was alleged that Martland had not followed school policy in that she failed to appropriately report the disclosures made by Pupil A to the school’s safeguarding team.

On September 28, 2021, Martland was dismissed by the school for misconduct.

Witness A told the panel that the school implemented guidance for appropriate communication with pupils and this should have been limited to homework and schoolwork.

She also stated that staff have safeguarding training on an annual basis, and this included reporting and recording disclosures in a timely manner.

In her evidence, Witness A stated that teachers were not expected to respond to emails from pupils after 4.30pm, and only about their academic work.

The panel also heard evidence from Pupil A, who stated that they started communicating by email with Martland about work, but as time went on, they started discussing personal things.

Pupil A stated that they would email each other every day, and there was not really ever a break in the emails.

The panel found that Martland failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with Pupil A by sending and exchanging emails with them which were sent outside of school hours, attached personal photographs and contained an ‘x’ indicating kisses.

An example of one email was: “But not caring is a totally reasonable response! Xxxx”

The panel also found Martland failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with Pupil A by providing them with advice relating to relationships and encouraging them to consume alcohol.

The behaviour occurred while Martland was a teacher at Penketh High School. Picture: Google Maps

Pupil A was under the age of 18 at the time these emails were exchanged.

A further boundary breach found by the panel involved Martland agreeing not to share information provided by Pupil A.

Moreover, the panel deemed that she failed to notify, at the earliest opportunity, the designated safeguarding lead that Pupil A disclosed information to her.

Having found the allegations proved, the panel went on to consider whether the facts of those proved allegations amounted to unacceptable professional conduct, or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

The hearing report reads: “The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Martland amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.

“Accordingly, the panel was satisfied that Martland was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

“The findings of misconduct are serious, and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individual’s status as a teacher, potentially damaging the public perception.

“The panel therefore found that Martland’s actions constituted conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.”

Given the findings in respect of unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, it was necessary to consider whether it would be appropriate to recommend the imposition of a prohibition order by the Secretary of State.

On her behalf, it was said by the witness that Martland had previously been a valued member of staff who went ‘the extra mile’ for students, and that there had been no previous concerns.

The report concludes: “The panel was of the view that prohibition was both proportionate and appropriate.

“Accordingly, the panel made a recommendation to the Secretary of State that a prohibition order should be imposed with immediate effect.”

This means that Martland is prohibited from teaching indefinitely, and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

She may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until five years have elapsed at the earliest.

In a statement after the hearing, a spokesman for The Challenge Academy Trust said: "Laura Martland commenced employment at Penketh High School in March 2007.

"In June 2021, the academy identified a serious safeguarding concern relating to Miss Martland, who was subsequently suspended from duty.

"With safeguarding being the academy's first priority, a full disciplinary investigation was launched.

"Miss Martland was dismissed in September 2021 following a disciplinary hearing.

"In line with its statutory obligations, the academy liaised with the local authority designated officer throughout this case and referred the matter to both the Disclosure and Barring Service and Teaching Regulation Agency."