Former Swindon teacher banned from teaching over sexually motivated conduct
A panel found he breached professional boundaries and acted dishonestly
A former teacher at a Swindon school has been banned from teaching indefinitely after a professional conduct panel found his behaviour towards a pupil was sexually motivated.
Mark Fletcher worked at Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College in Swindon.
The Teaching Regulation Agency panel found he failed to keep appropriate professional boundaries with a pupil, acted dishonestly, and went on to have a romantic and sexual relationship with her after she left the school.
The decision was made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education by decision maker Stuart Blomfield on 9th October 2026.
What the panel found
The hearing took place online from 5th to 7th October 2026.
Mr Fletcher did not attend and was not represented. He made no admissions, and the panel treated all the allegations as disputed.
The panel found all of the allegations against him proven.
It found he gave the pupil a letter in July 2019 containing the words 'It is rare to meet someone who changes who you are' and 'You have had a real effect on me'.
It found he sent her a large number of emails, many in the middle of the night, some from his personal email address.
It also found he emailed her in August 2019 suggesting they meet in the early hours of the morning.
The panel found, on the balance of probabilities, that he drove to or past her home around midnight on or around 30th August 2019 and met her.
The pupil told the panel she snuck out of her house to meet him and that they talked in his car until about 6am.
The panel found he asked her words to the effect of "You're not gonna tell anyone are you" during that meeting.
It concluded he was trying to conceal the meeting, and that his conduct lacked integrity and was dishonest.
Relationship with the pupil
The panel found Mr Fletcher developed a personal relationship with the pupil while she was still a student, and that it became romantic and then sexual after she left.
It accepted she remained on the school roll until 31st August 2019.
The pupil told the panel the sexual relationship began in December 2019.
The panel found his conduct while she was a pupil laid the foundations for the relationship that followed.
It described the pattern of behaviour as 'akin to grooming', saying it built her trust and emotional dependence.
It concluded his conduct was of a sexual nature and sexually motivated.
Mr Fletcher's account
The panel considered statements Mr Fletcher gave to the school during its own investigation.
He said the leaving card was a reply to one she had given him, and that much of the language mirrored hers.
He described the emails as 'wholly platonic' and said he believed she was no longer a student at the time.
He said a personal relationship did not start until May 2020, 11 months after she had left.
He told the school's appeal hearing the claim that he had asked her to keep the meeting secret was a lie.
The panel did not accept his explanations.
It said he had focused on technical points, such as whether she was still on the school roll, rather than acknowledging the nature of his actions.
It found he had shown limited insight or remorse and that there was a significant risk of repetition.
How the case reached the panel
The pupil reported the relationship to the school on or around 28th June 2023.
The school referred the matter to its local authority designated officer, and Mr Fletcher was suspended on 3rd July 2023.
His employment was ended on 4th October 2023.
Police investigated, but no formal action was taken.
The school referred the case to the Teaching Regulation Agency on 22nd November 2023.
The ban
The panel recommended a prohibition order with no chance of review.
The decision maker accepted that recommendation.
Mr Fletcher is prohibited from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.
He has also been told he cannot apply to have his eligibility to teach restored.
The order takes effect from the date it is served on him.
He has the right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days of being given notice.