A geography teacher has been barred from the profession after sending money, fast food, and messages to both current and former students
A teacher who sent money and messages to former pupils has been barred from the profession.
Roger Towersey send £500 to a former pupil and spent around £1,000 on fast food for “vulnerable” students.
The Ditton Park Academy Geography teacher accepted he had sent a former pupil multiple payments and social media messages.
He also admitted ordering fast food for two other pupils, with whom he had spent time alone and allowed to access the school out-of-hours.
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Mr Towersey admitted in a written statement to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel that he was guilty of actions amounting to “unacceptable professional conduct” which could bring the profession into “disrepute”.
Between October 2023 and April 2024, the 37-year-old sent multiple messages to a former pupil at the Berkshire school via social media, and, between March 28 and April 10 2024, sent her money.
The former student said she was first messaged by the teacher just before her 18th birthday, to wish her a happy Easter, ask about her plans, and discuss money, college and shopping.
In an internal meeting with school staff in April 2024, Mr Towersey said he knew messaging the pupil was “beyond (his) remit” but said he “forgot” she was a former student, and wanted to check she had someone to talk to.
In one TikTok message, Mr Towersey told her: “Be careful they will wonder where all the ££ came from. They will think your dealing or doing only fans. (laughing emoji).”
Another read: “Don’t be getting anything too nice, I don’t want to be responsible for either of you pulling and accidentally getting pregnant.
“Stay out of Victoria Secret aswell (laughing emoji) Only joking have a good time while I’m bloody working. Its all I do, eat, sleep, shit and work. Adulting is not fun. (Angry emoji).”
Mr Towersey sent multiple payments to this pupil throughout March and April, totally £500, as shown by bank statements.
Social media messages showed Mr Towersey responded to her request to borrow £4 with: “Hey You. sorry for the late reply. yea sure. i’ll send you 20 now.”
He also sent the former pupil money for a day out with family but told her it would be the “last time for this month”.
Mr Towersey told the school during an internal investigation he had realised sending the money was a “stupid” thing to do as soon as he had offered it.
The TRA also reviewed evidence he had allowed two other pupils to access the school at weekends, spent time alone with them, and gave them snacks when they reported feeling hungry.
The panel found that his failure to report that the children told him they were hungry and cold was a “significant factor” in the decision to ban him from the profession.
Mr Towersey spent around around £1,000 on fast food via delivery apps for one or both pupils, “whom he knew to be vulnerable”, an action judged by the TRA to be “highly inappropriate”.
In his written disciplinary hearing statement, Mr Towersey insisted his motivations were “not nefarious or sinister”, and thought his actions had a “net benefit” to one of the pupils, whom he said was performing better academically.
It was concluded that Mr Towersey’s conduct was “clearly unprofessional” and suggested repeated attempts to “gain a level of familiarity with pupils which was not appropriate for a teacher-pupil relationship”.
Roger Towersey was banned from teaching indefinitely on March 3, and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England, and is entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.
