Former Surrey teacher banned from classroom for life after child sex offences
Ian Cornish was jailed for four years and has been told he can never teach again
A former teacher who was jailed for sexual offences against a 13-year-old boy has been banned from teaching for life.
Ian Cornish, who previously worked at Ewell Castle School in Surrey, will never be allowed to teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.
The 70-year-old was prohibited following a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel hearing, with the decision made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education.
What happened
The panel heard that Cornish accessed a dating site and met a child who was 13 years old.
He then engaged in a series of sexualised communications with the child over several months.
The panel said the communications "culminated in meetings between them and, ultimately, sexual activity", adding that Cornish knew the child was under 16.
The child was not one of his pupils, and the offending did not take place in a school setting.
Convictions and sentence
Cornish pleaded guilty to three offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and was convicted at Harrow Crown Court.
The offences were meeting a boy under 16 following grooming, arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and engaging in sexual communication with a child.
On 10th January 2023, he was sentenced to four years in prison.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
The panel's decision
The panel found the offences were relevant to Cornish's fitness to teach and described the conduct as being at "the serious end of the spectrum".
It noted that Cornish had an otherwise unblemished record and had engaged with the TRA, making full admissions.
However, the panel said he had shown no insight, remorse or concern for the victim.
"When speaking about the offending, his focus was on the impact of the offence on him as opposed to the victim," the panel said.
The panel concluded there was "a real risk of Mr Cornish repeating his offending behaviour".
Banned for life
Decision maker Marc Cavey, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, agreed that a prohibition order was proportionate and in the public interest.
He said Cornish's behaviour was "fundamentally incompatible with him being a teacher".
Cornish has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and will not be entitled to apply to have the ban reviewed.
He has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
Ewell Castle School has been approached for comment.