Two former teachers at Lincolnshire school banned after misconduct findings

Two former members of staff at a specialist school in Boston, Lincolnshire, have been banned from teaching indefinitely following findings published by the Teaching Regulation Agency. The published decisions relate to Thomas Hayward and Alison Simmons, who both worked at Build-a-Future Independent School until 2021. The school educated pupils aged 13 to 16 who had been permanently excluded or who had Special Educational Needs or Disabilities, alongside mental health difficulties. According to the Teaching Regulation Agency's published outcome, a professional conduct panel found a series of allegations against Hayward proven. These included throwing stones and eggs at or near pupils, using racist and offensive language, engaging in inappropriate physical and sexualised behaviour in the presence of a pupil, encouraging pupils to use a dead animal as a ball, and attending the school with bullets or live ammunition in his car. The panel concluded, according to the published decision, that Hayward's conduct amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and could bring the profession into disrepute. An indefinite prohibition order was made, preventing him from teaching. A separate professional conduct panel considered the case of Simmons, who was the school's designated safeguarding lead. According to the published outcome, the panel found that she failed to safeguard the welfare of pupils and/or staff at the school. The decision said this amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and that she should also be prohibited from teaching indefinitely. The published decisions state that neither former teacher attended the hearings and that neither had legal representation. Both have the right to appeal to the Secretary of State for Education. The findings concern conduct said by the regulator to have taken place during their employment at the school up to 2021. The published outcomes set out the allegations found proven by the panels and the sanctions imposed. Build-a-Future Independent School served vulnerable children in Lincolnshire, including pupils whose education had already been disrupted and those requiring specialist support. The cases therefore relate to a setting involving children who may have needed additional safeguarding and stability. The Teaching Regulation Agency regulates the teaching profession in England and can refer serious cases to professional conduct panels. Where allegations are found proven, panels may recommend sanctions including prohibition from teaching. The published rulings describe Hayward's case as involving serious misconduct and Simmons's case as involving failures in safeguarding responsibilities. In both cases, the outcome was an indefinite prohibition order. These are findings from professional conduct panels published by the Teaching Regulation Agency. The Lincoln Post has not independently verified these claims.