A Surrey maths teacher who lied to her students about being shot in a war zone has been banned from teaching indefinitely. Alexandra Slay, who taught at Epsom and Ewell High School until her resignation in November 2023, told pupils she was in the Australian army and even sent fake text messages claiming she had been severely wounded.
The Teaching Regulation Agency’s professional conduct panel found that Slay sent thousands of emails and handwritten letters to students between 2020 and 2023, often encouraging secrecy through “pinky promises”. In one email, she wrote: “I am going to give you my digits… as I am getting tired of emailing.” The panel deemed the content of her letters as deeply inappropriate and unprofessional.
Slay also fabricated a narrative about her military involvement, including text messages from a supposed “Lt. D Blackburn” reporting that she had sustained serious injuries. During a disciplinary interview, she admitted the stories were “all fabricated”, stating she made them up to feel like she belonged. The panel concluded her actions breached teacher-pupil boundaries and could bring the profession into disrepute.
She may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside after 21 April 2028.
