Former Leicestershire teacher banned from classrooms for at least two years

A former Leicestershire school teacher who touched girls' arms, held a pupil's hand, told one she was beautiful and another that she smelt nice has been banned from the country's classrooms for at least two years. A disciplinary panel found Adrian Bradley guilty of unacceptable professional conduct for failing to maintain professional boundaries. The 64-year-old taught at the former Burleigh Community College, in Loughborough, from January 2010 until 17 May 2012. Imposing the ban, Education Secretary, Michael Gove said: "Mr Bradley has failed to observe the appropriate boundaries that should be in place at all times. His behaviour on more than one occasion breached the standards that are expected of a teacher. He failed to treat pupils with dignity and respect." It was the second time in six years that Mr Bradley had been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, and Mr Gove referred to this in backing the panel's recommendation that he be banned. Mr Gove said: "I support the recommendation of the panel. This decision takes into account the public interest and the need to be proportionate." In its findings, the National College for Teaching and Leadership's professional conduct panel said that during 2012, Mr Bradley "failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries towards female students". It said that on or around May 3, 2012, he stroked one student's arm and said words to the effect of "now that I've got you I'm never letting you go". On or around May 10, 2012, he touched another student's arm and also told the first student that she was beautiful. He told another she smelt nice and held the hand of another. In a conversation with another student he guessed at her dress size, and with another told her to close her eyes while he removed a loose eyelash. Bradley admitted the allegations and accepted that they amounted to unacceptable professional conduct or conduct that brought the profession into disrepute. The panel's findings said that in 2007, the former professional regulatory body, the General Teaching Council, banned Mr Bradley from acting as a headteacher after finding that, between January 2004 and July 2005, he acted in a manner that was seriously demeaning and undermining of colleagues in that he sexually harassed four members of staff. Recommending he should now be banned from the classroom, the latest findings state: "This hearing was a second occasion when Mr Bradley's professional judgement had been found to be lacking." The findings say the panel took into account Mr Bradley's long history as a teacher, and recommended a two-year review period so that he could reflect upon his actions and the need for appropriate boundaries to be in place at all times. The decision means Mr Bradley is prohibited from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. He may apply for the ban to be set aside, but not until April 2015, and if he does so he will have to persuade another panel that he is fit to return to the classroom. Mr Bradley has a right of appeal to the High Court.