Teacher James Thomas banned after sexual misconduct at Surbiton school

James Thomas, a 34-year-old teacher, has been banned indefinitely from the teaching profession following findings of serious sexual misconduct. The ban was issued by a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel acting on behalf of Education Secretary Lucy Powell.

The misconduct occurred while Thomas was employed at Shrewsbury House School in Surbiton, south London. The TRA panel determined that Thomas pursued sexual relationships with pupils after they had reached the age of 16. His actions included kissing, touching, and coercing one pupil into performing oral sex.

Messages and physical contact

According to the panel's report, Thomas used his personal phone to send messages to a pupil, including sexually explicit comments. He told the pupil she had a "perfect body" and that "if only you were 16 we could have sex". During a visit to the pupil's home, Thomas was found to have kissed her neck and cheek, and touched her chest and waist. He also made comments about her clothing and suggested she come to his room naked if she liked him.

The panel also found that Thomas acted flirtatiously towards another pupil while employed at Bedales School in Hampshire. This included staring at her breasts, attempting to touch her clothes, and making sexual innuendoes. He responded to her frustration with a computer by saying "one day hopefully".

Further allegations and ban

Further allegations detailed in the report state that after moving to a school in Chichester, Thomas kissed a pupil multiple times and touched her breasts. He was also found to have forced the pupil to perform oral sex on him on three occasions and attempted penetrative sex. In another incident, he removed his clothes to join the pupil in the shower uninvited and sexually assaulted her.

The TRA panel concluded that Thomas had "sought to take advantage of his role and privileged access to students to further his own sexual gratification and to pursue a sexual relationship with children after they reached the age of 16". The report stated his conduct was "wholly unacceptable" and had "serious, long-term negative impacts on the children involved".

Although police investigations into Thomas’s conduct with both pupils were dropped, the TRA has banned him indefinitely from teaching. Thomas did not engage with the TRA proceedings.