A PE teacher who told a female student that she was “Premier League” and one of his “favourite people on the planet” has been banned from the profession indefinitely. Stuart Smith, 48, was excluded from teaching after a disciplinary panel found he had been “overfamiliar” and developed an “emotional personal relationship” with a pupil at Mayville High School in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Details of the Misconduct
The misconduct hearing revealed that Mr Smith had become “increasingly close” to a pupil during a school trip and engaged in regular one-to-one conversations with her. Following their return, he exchanged several WhatsApp messages with the girl. In one message, he said: “So, today I’ve seen a lot of my favourite people and done some fun things but I would have swapped it all for a cup of milo, a game of spoons and just being silly with you.” In another, he told her she was “Premier League and one of my favourite people on the planet”.
Mr Smith also referred to the student as the best “hoody stealer”, “bracelet addict”, and “Mona Lisa friend”, among other names. He acknowledged that his messages were “too friendly and over familiar” but attributed it to spending 16 to 17 hours a day with the pupil during the trip. In his written statement, he agreed the messages were unprofessional and “blurred the lines between what is acceptable and not”.
Physical Contact Allegations
The pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the hearing that on the journey home from the trip, she said she was going to sleep and Mr Smith allowed her to put her legs over him. She alleged that the teacher then “rubbed” and “touched” her thigh with his hands. Mr Smith “categorically” denied this, but the panel found the allegation proven.
The panel also found that Mr Smith had photographs of the student, bought her a fabric bracelet, and exchanged personal mobile phone numbers with one or more pupils.
Police Investigation and Resignation
In October 2023, Mr Smith was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and suspended from the school. However, the police investigation was closed with no further action in December of that year. He resigned from the school, which charges around £18,000 per year for senior students from year seven to year 11.
The panel concluded that his conduct “involved serious and repeated failures to maintain proper professional boundaries with a pupil and a failure to act in accordance with safeguarding expectations, requirements and responsibilities”. The report added: “The panel considered that these matters seriously undermined the standards expected of a teacher and he sought to exploit his position of trust.”
Some allegations against Mr Smith were not proven. He is now prohibited from teaching indefinitely, with the possibility to apply for the order to be set aside no earlier than 2029. He retains the right to appeal at the High Court.
