A Merseyside supply teacher who was deemed “unsuitable to work with children” has admitted she panicked and went “into survival mode” when she ignored an instruction to stay away from the classroom. Ceyhan Unluer was under a local authority investigation when she was caught continuing to teach in five schools across the region despite being told not to.
Background and Investigation
The 45-year-old, who had been contracted to work as a supply teacher in St Helens via an agency, failed to notify a second company that she was facing an education probe into her conduct. She has now been barred from the profession and will not be allowed to appeal for another four years.
The ECHO understands Ms Unluer has returned to Turkey after she admitted to a former colleague that she had “got caught” but made the “moral decision” to ignore the instruction to step back. The former educator wrote in an email to the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) that she did not ignore the instruction to stop teaching “to defy authority, but in a moment of vulnerability and under great pressure.”
Employment History
Ms Unluer was contracted to work at Willow Bank School in St Helens through Tradewind Recruitment from June 2023. She was also contracted to work as a supply teacher at St Margaret Church of England, Warrington; Holy Cross Primary School, St Helens; Redbridge High School in Fazakerley; Penketh Primary School; and Woolston Brook, Warrington through Connex Education agency from October of the same year.
Witness Accounts
A report into the hearing held in private detailed how an individual known only as Witness B said there had been a referral regarding “concerns” about Ms Unluer in November 2023. In a subsequent meeting, the supply teacher was advised by Tradewind Recruitment that she was not to work with children while the investigation process was underway.
Another individual, Witness E, told panel members that it was discovered in January 2024 that the teacher had continued to work with an alternative agency over a two-week period and had not informed them about the local authority investigation. It was said Ms Unluer told a man known as Witness D she “got caught” working in a school against the recommendation of the local authority designated officer (LADO) and it was a “moral choice” to work over the recommendation.
A fourth individual, Witness C, said Tradewind Recruitment first became aware of the investigation by the LADO following direct contact from council officials on November 14, 2023. At this time, Ms Unluer was working at Willow Bank School, who were also informed and her contract was terminated with instructions for her not to return. Witness C said she told Ms Unluer a week later that she would not be offered any work by Tradewind Recruitment until the LADO process had concluded and that if she were to apply elsewhere for work, then she would have to disclose the investigation. However, in February 2024, Ms Unluer revealed that she had been working with another agency from November 2023 to January 2024.
Further Details
Witness A told the hearing how Connex Education received a call from Woolston Brook on or around 30 January 2024 stating that they had “received an anonymous email” stating that Ms Unluer was “unsuitable to work with children” and that she was “under a LADO investigation.” In subsequent assessments with Ms Unluer, the Liverpool John Moores University graduate said she didn’t think she needed to tell the agency as she had appealed against the decision.
It was said the 45-year-old thought “the matter was over and that she panicked and went into survival mode, hence her lack of judgment regarding informing Connex Education of her situation.” In an email to the TRA’s presenting officer last August, Ms Unluer admitted she had been instructed by the LADO to stop working during the investigation period. She added: “I accept responsibility for continuing to work during that time, but I did so out of necessity. I made a difficult decision to prioritise my family’s basic survival.”
Panel Decision
The panel considered that Ms Unluer had “adequate opportunity” to notify Connex Education but did not do so. As a professional and a teacher, officials considered that Ms Unluer was expected to make her agency aware of these circumstances as they were relevant to her ongoing suitability to teach and safeguard children.
Email correspondence from Witness C also indicated that she asked Ms Unluer if she had been working for other schools during the LADO investigation and she had denied it. This was not true.
In a further email to the presenting officer in August 2025, Ms Unluer attempted to offer mitigation for her decision. She said: “Several years ago, during an extremely difficult period of my life I found myself under investigation due to concerns. I fully understand the necessity of safeguarding processes, and I have always supported any actions taken to protect children. However, I firmly state that I have never harmed a child, nor have I ever put any child at risk. No court or authority has found me guilty of doing so. Teaching has never been just a profession for me — it is a lifelong vocation driven by a deep commitment to the safety, growth, and development of children.”
Panel members said they felt Ms Unluer’s conduct had been “serious and deliberate” and recommended a four-year review period be put in place to reflect this. This means she 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 appeal in 2030.
