Teacher barred for sending former pupil money and for buying food for students

A teacher who sent £500 to a former pupil and spent around £1,000 on fast food for vulnerable students has been barred from the profession.

Roger Towersey, who taught at Ditton Park Academy in Slough, Berkshire, accepted he had sent a former pupil multiple payments and social media messages.

The geography teacher also admitted ordering fast food for two other pupils, with whom he had spent time alone and was allowed to access the school out-of-hours.

In a written statement, Towersey admitted to a Teaching Regulation Agency panel that he was guilty of actions amounting to ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ which could bring the profession into ‘disrepute’.

Between October 2023 and April 2024, the 37-year-old sent multiple messages to a former pupil via social media, and, between March 28 and April 10, 2024, sent her money.

Towersey’s former pupil said he messaged her just before her 18th birthday, to wish her a happy Easter, ask about her plans, and discuss money, college and shopping.

In an internal meeting with school staff in April 2024, Towersey said he knew messaging the pupil was ‘beyond (his) remit’ but said he forgot she was a former student, and wanted to check she had someone to talk to.

In one TikTok message, Towersey told her: ‘Be careful, they will wonder where all the ££ came from. They will think you’re dealing or doing only fans. (laughing emoji).’

Another read: ‘Don’t get anything too nice, I don’t want to be responsible for either of you pulling and accidentally getting pregnant.

‘Stay out of Victoria’s Secret as well (laughing emoji). Only joking, have a good time while I’m bloody working. It’s all I do: eat, sleep, shit and work. Adulting is not fun. (Angry emoji).’

Bank statements seen by the TRA showed Towersey sent multiple payments to his former pupil throughout March and April 2024, totalling £500.

On another occasion, Towersey’s former pupil asked for money for a day out with family, which he agreed to send, adding it would be the ‘last time for this month’.

During the internal investigation, Towersey told the school he had realised sending the money was a ‘stupid’ thing to do as soon as he had offered it.

The TRA also reviewed evidence that he had allowed two other pupils to access the school at weekends, spent time alone with them, and gave them snacks when they reported feeling hungry.

The panel found the former teacher failed to report that the children told him they were hungry and cold, a ‘significant factor’ in the decision to ban him from the profession.

Using food delivery apps such as Just Eat, the panel found Towersey spent around £1,000 on fast food for one or both pupils, ‘whom he knew to be vulnerable’.

In his written disciplinary hearing statement, Towersey insisted his motivations were ‘not nefarious or sinister’, and thought his actions had a ‘net benefit’ to one of the pupils, whom he said was performing better academically.

The panel concluded Towersey’s conduct was ‘clearly unprofessional’ and suggested repeated attempts to “gain a level of familiarity with pupils which was not appropriate for a teacher-pupil relationship”.

Towersey was banned from teaching indefinitely on March 3, and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England, and is entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

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