A teacher who sent WhatsApp messages while driving a minibus carrying 13 pupils has been sacked but avoided a ban from the profession. Stuart Balfour, head of sport at St Edmund’s School in Hindhead, Surrey, admitted his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.
The Teaching Regulation Agency panel heard that on 21 November 2023, concerns were raised about Balfour’s welfare after he had been involved in an argument. He then drove pupils to a football match on the A3, using his phone to send messages. The minibus log showed speeds of up to 62 mph.
Balfour said he dictated messages without picking up the phone, but touched the screen in a cup holder. The panel noted this required taking his focus off the road. He was suspended six days later and dismissed after a disciplinary meeting.
Nine character references praised his dedication and remorse. One said the incident was “entirely out of character”. The panel found the risk of repetition very low and concluded that publishing the findings was sufficient to send a message about acceptable standards.
