Woman PE teacher, 31, struck off for repeatedly having sex with 15-year-old pupil
Alexandra Sharman was barred from teaching indefinitely after 'extended' relationship with teen pupil who became depressed
A WOMAN teacher who repeatedly had sex with a 15-year-old boy "over an extended period" has been banned from the classroom for life.
The boy later sent a threatening letter to disgraced Alexandra Sharman, 31, at around the time he confided to a GP that he was the victim of “sex abuse”.
The family doctor reported her behaviour to the police but her victim, identified only as Pupil A, refused to press charges.
After receiving the threatening letter, PE teacher Sharman told the Hertfordshire school's former head of behaviour, safety and attendance – Witness B – that "lines had been crossed".
She also told her family and a fellow teacher – Witness A – about the relationship before telling her ex: "I've had sex with a student."
She was sacked from Marriotts School in Stevenage – whose motto is “Aim high. Work hard. Be kind” – for gross misconduct after a career there stretching over eight years.
Sharman was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute by a professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership.
The panel said: "The inappropriate relationship between Ms Sharman and Pupil A involved engaging in sexual activity including sexual intercourse on more than one occasion.
"Based on the totality of the evidence the panel are satisfied there was an intimate and sustained relationship between Ms Sharman and Pupil A over an extended period."
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The hearing in Coventry was told the relationship with Pupil A began when he was in Year 10.
Panel chair Janet Draper said: "The allegation came to light in approximately June 2015 when Pupil A disclosed to his GP that he had been the victim of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Ms Sharman when asked why he was depressed.
"Pupil A's GP passed this information on to the Hertfordshire Constabulary.
";On 20 June 2015, Ms Sharman spoke to a friend and school colleague, Witness B, about a threatening letter that she had received from Pupil A and the nature of her relationship with him.
"On 21 June 2015, Ms Sharman also told her friend and school colleague, Witness A about the letter from Pupil A and disclosed the nature of her relationship with him.
"On 21 June 2015 Witness B informed the Head Teacher at the school of the disclosure made to her by Ms Sharman."
Sharman was suspended on 23 June 2015.
The teen victim was interviewed by police on the 19 July 2015 and said he did not want to make a formal complaint of a crime.
The school was told that December that police would not be pressing charges against the teacher.
Sharman submitted a letter of resignation on 12 January 2016 before the school probe could be concluded.
Draper said: "The panel carefully considered the written statement provided from Pupil A.
"The panel approached Pupil A's evidence with great care and caution due to the manner in which he raised his relationship directly with Ms Sharman, namely the threatening letter he wrote to her, which gave the panel considerable cause for concern."
Sharman did not attend the hearing and did not want her union the NASUWT to represent her.
She was banned from teaching indefinitely which means she cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children's home in England.
Draper said: "There is no evidence Ms Sharman's action were not deliberate and there is no evidence to suggest she was acting under duress.
"In fact, the panel found the teacher's actions to be calculated and intentional."
Decision maker Jayne Millions, on behalf of Education Secretary Justine Greening, said the case was so serious the teacher will not even be allowed to apply for the ban to be lifted in the future.
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