Teacher Struck Off After Sending 'Hot Feeling' Texts and Declaring Love to Pupil
A teacher at a prestigious boarding school charging over £30,000 per year has been banned from teaching indefinitely following a disciplinary panel's findings of serious misconduct involving a pupil. Benjamin Phelps, 31, was struck off after repeatedly declaring his love to a student and engaging in inappropriate communications, including texts where he described experiencing a 'hot feeling'.
Inappropriate Communications and Meetings
The Teaching Regulation Agency's professional conduct panel heard that Phelps, who served as a deputy boarding housemaster, tutor, and performing arts technician at St Bede's School in East Sussex, sent numerous inappropriate messages to the pupil, referred to as Pupil A. These included WhatsApp texts where he expressed romantic feelings, such as 'I love you and wish you sweet dream' and detailed descriptions of physical reactions.
In one particularly explicit message, Phelps wrote: 'A hot feeling went through me, from front to back, I shook slightly (bit weird but true), then I had this warm glow and I can't stop staring at it. I feel love, like pure love at a level I'm not sure I've felt before. This one feels special. (I'm so sorry for this but you want the truth) it properly turned me on.'
Beyond digital communications, Phelps and the pupil met outside of lessons, engaged in hugs and kisses on the cheek, and he even suggested skipping school to 'eat in the car' together. He also wrote a note on a napkin stating, 'Just to say.. I (heart symbol) with all my (heart symbol)', further blurring professional boundaries.
Escalation and Safeguarding Failures
The panel detailed how the relationship escalated over time. Initially using the school's main digital communication system for messages scattered with kisses and emojis, Phelps later moved their correspondence to WhatsApp, a non-school-approved platform, where they exchanged photographs and spent increasing time together outside academic settings.
A critical safeguarding failure occurred when the pupil disclosed a matter to Phelps that should have triggered mandatory reporting procedures, but he took no action. This omission highlighted a severe breach of his professional duties to protect students.
Panel Findings and Consequences
The relationship 'came to a head' when the pupil attempted to kiss Phelps, though the panel noted he did not reciprocate and tried to revert to a professional footing. However, he failed to report this incident and admitted to occasional kisses on the cheek. References in their messages confirmed that hugs had occurred between them.
During the hearing, Phelps conceded that he had likely been flattered by the attention and acknowledged that some messages indicated he had developed romantic feelings. The panel concluded that his actions, both individually and cumulatively, constituted significant breaches of professional boundaries and that the relationship had become personal and romanticised.
While an allegation of grooming was not proved, the misconduct was deemed severe enough to warrant an indefinite prohibition order. Phelps was fired in April 2024 following an internal investigation, and the panel formally struck him off on January 16 this year. He can apply to have the order set aside, but not until January 2030, and retains a right of appeal at the High Court.
This case underscores the paramount importance of maintaining strict professional boundaries in educational settings to ensure student safety and trust.
