Anthony Hook, 66, a former maths teacher at a Greater Manchester school, has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely. The decision follows a disciplinary panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency finding him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
Hook, who served in the Army and worked at the school for nearly 20 years, was cleared by a jury in 2023 of sexual assault charges involving eight female students. He was acquitted on all counts after a two-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court.
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour
The professional conduct panel heard that Hook confessed to a series of interactions that made students feel uneasy, including playing with or complimenting their hair and singing 'I love you' to one pupil. He denied that these encounters were sexually motivated, but the panel accepted the allegations following a two-day hearing.
According to the panel's published decision, one student, referred to as Pupil A, alleged Hook put his arm around her at least 10 times in front of the class and made comments about her lip gloss or said 'I like your lippy'. She also claimed he ran his fingers through her hair and said 'oh that's nice'. Hook stated his intention was 'benign' but his comments could be 'open to misinterpretation'.
Panel finds conduct proven
The panel ruled the incident where Hook sang a three-minute song saying 'I love you' to Pupil A as 'proven', describing her evidence as 'compelling'. Another student, Pupil B, said Hook would run his fingers through her hair, and he allegedly encouraged her to 'come to my house' during a discussion about marking work, though he claimed he meant his desk.
Hook also admitted saying 'I will be your prom date' to Pupils B and C at different times and writing 'I love Mr Hook' on Pupil C's planner. During his trial, he conceded he may have touched their hair or shoulders and hugged one alleged victim when she became upset, but denied any sexual motive.
Previous warning and ban
The panel noted that in 2015, Hook had received a written warning from his school 'not to touch students and staff' following complaints that he had been touching pupils on their arms and shoulders. The panel concluded he had 'failed to learn' from the warning.
Hook, from Urmston, was dismissed by the school. An official on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education confirmed he is 'prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England'. Hook can request a review of the decision after two years.
