Primary School Teacher Permanently Barred for Inappropriate Conduct with Pupils
A primary school teacher who asked girls in his class to go on dates has been banned from the profession for life following a damning conduct panel judgement. Carl Dixon, aged 62, engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour that included sending secret notes, pressuring a pupil for a hug, and touching a child's bottom, the Teaching Regulation Agency heard.
Secret Notes and Covert Lunch Meetings
The panel found that Mr Dixon, who worked at Davies Lane Primary School near Stratford in northeast London, sent personalised and secret notes to pupils during lessons. He would stick notes on the back of pupils' books and either retrieve them later or dispose of them afterwards to avoid detection. Additionally, he asked children to join him for lunch "in circumstances of secrecy, including asking pupils to hide," creating an environment of covert interaction that breached professional boundaries.
Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Dishonesty
Mr Dixon was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, with the panel concluding he had misled his employer during his job application in 2018. He answered 'no' to a question about whether he had ever been known to children's services or police as a risk to children, despite the subsequent findings. The allegations involved serious dishonesty, coercive behaviour, and sexually motivated conduct, including touching a pupil's bottom, which was proven on the balance of probabilities.
Specific Incidents and Witness Accounts
Handwritten notes from school assistants recorded that two girls reported Mr Dixon had asked girls to go on dates. One pupil, referred to as Pupil 9, confirmed he had hugged her, and another note stated Pupil 9 said Mr Dixon was "touching her butt." During a class party, Mr Dixon reportedly said, "If I have a hug from Child A, you can do anything you want," which the panel found demonstrated pressure on Pupil 9 to hug him.
Lifetime Ban and Risk of Repetition
The panel emphasised that Mr Dixon's failure to take responsibility for his actions, which occurred over a significant period from November 2017 to January 2020, indicated a real risk of repetition. He quit his job in January 2020 and was sacked in February 2026. In explaining the lifetime ban, the judgement noted the very serious nature of his behaviour, including sending secret notes and engaging in conduct of a sexual nature, weighed against offering a review period.
This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining professional boundaries in educational settings and the severe consequences for those who violate them.
