Schools & Education · Swindon
Former Swindon teacher banned for life after grooming student
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A former Ridgeway School teacher has been permanently prohibited from the classroom following a conduct panel's finding of predatory behaviour.
A former teacher at Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College has been banned from the classroom for life after an investigation by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found he had engaged in behaviour described as akin to grooming. Mark Fletcher was the subject of a professional conduct panel hearing which concluded his actions during 2018 and 2019 represented a severe breach of professional trust.
The panel found that Mr Fletcher had established an inappropriate emotional connection with a student during her time at the school. This behaviour included sending emotionally charged messages outside of school hours, using personal email accounts for communication, and arranging meetings away from school premises. In one instance, the panel noted that Mr Fletcher met a student near her home in the early hours of the morning, during which he was heard attempting to ensure the meeting remained a secret.
While the panel acknowledged that the relationship did not become romantic until the student had left the school in May 2020, they determined that Mr Fletcher’s actions in the preceding years fostered an emotional dependency that enabled the relationship to progress. The panel rejected Mr Fletcher's disputes regarding his conduct, noting that he had failed to maintain appropriate boundaries and had attempted to use technicalities to justify his behaviour.
Mr Fletcher did not attend the hearing and was not represented, which the panel noted limited the evidence available regarding any potential remorse or insight. On 9 October 2026, the Secretary of State confirmed that a prohibition order would be issued with no right of review, effectively banning Mr Fletcher from teaching in any school, sixth-form college, or youth accommodation in England indefinitely.
A spokesperson for Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College confirmed that the teacher's employment had ended in 2023. They stated that the school took immediate action, including suspension and contacting the relevant local authorities, as soon as the information regarding the case was disclosed to them. The school added that it remains committed to the safety of its pupils and has ensured that staff and families are aware of the outcome of the case.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Lifestyle · View original