Teacher banned for expressing romantic feelings to pupil in Friern Barnet
Tribunal finds conduct sexually motivated and harmful
Rafiqul Islam, a teacher at Friern Barnet School in north London, has been banned from the profession after admitting to expressing an "Edward Cullen type of love" to a pupil in 2022.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) tribunal found Islam's messages—calling Pupil A cute and professing love—were sexually motivated and constituted unacceptable professional conduct.
Islam denied any sexual intent, asserting he was seeking companionship and not pursuing a sexual relationship due to religious beliefs.
However, the panel determined his conduct was inappropriate and could bring the teaching profession into disrepute.
Extracts from Islam’s Instagram messages revealed a deep infatuation, likened to the vampire love interest from the Twilight series.
The messages included declarations of love and willingness to sacrifice his career for Pupil A, whom he hoped to be with.
Islam's actions, including failing to follow safeguarding protocols, were deemed capable of causing distress to the pupil.
A fully informed public member would find seeking a relationship with a student explicitly unacceptable, as concluded by the panel.
Islam acknowledged his mistakes, expressing regret for his actions during the early years of his teaching career.
He has been indefinitely barred from teaching in schools, sixth form colleges, relevant youth accommodations, and children's homes in England.