A music teacher from Bristol has been banned from teaching for life after admitting to a five-year affair with a sixth-form student, which he described as a 'risk worth taking'. Ben Hughes-Games, 39, taught at John Cabot Academy and became involved with the pupil, referred to as Pupil A, when she was still at the school.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) heard that Hughes-Games was initially given warnings after being caught socialising with the girl at his home and at a pub. He denied a sexual relationship at the time, but later admitted to having sexual intercourse with her before December 2009, when she was still a pupil.
Hughes-Games claimed the girl had been 'increasingly flirtatious' and that the relationship was platonic for four of the five years. He said there was 'no physical side to it after December 2009', but admitted to lying to the school to conceal the relationship so he could continue working there.
The panel found his actions dishonest and of a sexual nature. Panel chair Nicolé Jackson said: 'Mr Hughes-Games was seeking to conceal the relationship so that he could continue to work at the Academy. He continued to engage in a sexual relationship with her whilst subject to the two formal warnings.'
Hughes-Games, who now works as a music director at a church in Bristol, was not present at the hearing. He has been banned from teaching indefinitely.
