Louis Stockton, a former teacher at Cheltenham Ladies’ College in Gloucestershire, has been banned from teaching indefinitely following inappropriate conduct involving a former pupil. Stockton worked at the prestigious girls' school from September 2022 until October 2023.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) took action after discovering Stockton had exchanged messages with a pupil, referred to as Pupil A, via social media platforms from July to October 2023, shortly after she left the school. Although Pupil A was no longer a pupil after July 5, Stockton maintained contact through Instagram and Snapchat, contrary to the school’s policy advising staff against social relationships with pupils even immediately after they leave.
Stockton admitted to meeting Pupil A in Cheltenham in August 2023, where they visited a pub and had drinks together. He allowed her to stay overnight at his flat after she missed the last train home, though he claimed she fell asleep on the sofa. More seriously, in early September 2023, Stockton traveled to London to visit Pupil A at university and stayed overnight in her accommodation, sharing her bed due to lack of alternative sleeping arrangements. He described the visit and overnight stay as platonic and motivated by convenience rather than intent.
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Concerns escalated when another pupil alerted the school to Stockton’s behavior. Upon being confronted, Stockton initially denied meeting Pupil A, providing false and misleading information during safeguarding meetings. He later admitted these were errors in judgment, influenced by a desire to protect Pupil A’s privacy and professional panic.
The TRA panel found Stockton’s actions constituted a clear failure to maintain professional boundaries and involved dishonesty. Despite Stockton’s remorse, insight, and character references, the Secretary of State overruled the panel’s decision not to recommend a prohibition. Stockton is now barred from teaching in any setting across England indefinitely, with the possibility to apply for reconsideration no earlier than January 2028.
This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining professional boundaries and transparency in teacher-pupil relationships, even after pupils leave school.