A teacher at a prestigious boarding school with a tuition exceeding £30,000 per year has been removed from his position for expressing romantic feelings towards a student and engaging in inappropriate behavior outside of regular school activities.
Benjamin Phelps, aged 31, was permanently banned from teaching due to serious misconduct related to his involvement with a student at St Bede’s School in East Sussex. At the time, he held roles as a deputy boarding housemaster, tutor, and performing arts technician at the school catering to students aged 13 to 18.
Throughout their association, the teacher exchanged inappropriate text messages with the student, met outside of school hours, embraced, and kissed the student on the cheek. He even suggested skipping school to have meals together in his car.
Following an investigation, Phelps was dismissed from his position in April 2024, and on January 16 of the same year, the Teaching Regulation Agency’s professional conduct panel revoked his teaching credentials. In one of the WhatsApp messages, he expressed his affection towards the student, wishing them well for the night and declaring his love.
During the disciplinary process, it was revealed that their interactions escalated to a personal and romantic nature, with Phelps expressing intimate and affectionate sentiments to the student. Despite attempts to revert to a professional dynamic, the relationship continued to blur boundaries, leading to physical and emotional closeness between the teacher and the student.
While allegations of grooming were not substantiated, the panel determined that Phelps had breached professional boundaries significantly, resulting in a personal and romanticized connection with the student. Phelps has the option to appeal the prohibition order at the High Court, with the earliest opportunity for reconsideration set for January 2030.