A Birmingham primary school teacher who kept secret love letters from a girl pupil has avoided being banned from the profession. Malcolm Lowe worked at St Mary’s Church of England School, in Birmingham, when he failed to disclose the ‘I love you’ letters more than two decades ago, a disciplinary panel heard.
The Year Six student, known as ‘Pupil B’, claimed he met her alone in a storage room during break times and engaged in inappropriate behaviour. She alleged Mr Lowe would hug her and give her books to stand on so he could kiss her for long periods against a cupboard door.
Pupil B also claimed Mr Lowe would put his hand up her top and touch her back while she rocked back and forth against him. The teacher was accused of unacceptable professional conduct and denied all the allegations against him. The panel said the allegations were not proven and no further allegations had been made against him.
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The panel found inconsistencies in Pupil B’s evidence and took into consideration the alleged misconduct took place more than 20 years ago. The teacher himself said he had never engaged in any form of sexual behaviour or relationship with any pupil.
The panel said it found it “implausible that Mr Lowe, or any teacher, could facilitate a situation where twice a week for two years, he would be alone with a pupil, and this would not have been reported as suspicious, or his absence from school duties would not have been noticed.”
However, he was found guilty of receiving the letters from the pupil and not disclosing them. One letter said: “I really love you. I’m always thinking about you. I always look at your photo I have got. I will give you my photo.” Another also provided her personal contact information and home address. It said “I love you” and had a picture of a love heart.
The letters and pictures of Pupil B were later found in a classroom by other pupils. They then took them home to their parents before one of the parents brought some of the items back into the school.
David Oatley, the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State, said: “The nature and severity of the behaviour were at the less serious end of the possible spectrum. The panel considered that prohibiting Mr Lowe would serve no useful purpose, especially since he has taught pupils at various times over the past twenty-four years since the proven conduct occurred.
“I have also placed considerable weight on the panel’s comments on the continuing risk posed by Mr Lowe. The panel has said ‘It noted that there had been no previous decisions by the TRA relating to Mr Lowe.’
“Additionally, Mr Lowe had continued to work in the teaching profession since the proven conduct took place, and no further allegations had been made against him. Therefore, the panel concluded that the risk posed by Mr Lowe continuing to teach was minimal.
“For these reasons, I have concluded a prohibition order is not proportionate or in the public interest. I consider the publication of the findings made would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable and that the publication would meet the public interest requirement of declaring proper standards of the profession.”