A teacher has been banned from the classroom for life following a 17-month prison sentence for ‘grooming’ two schoolgirls.
Luke Berry, 36, was working at Joyce Frankland Academy in Essex when he committed two sexual offences against girls aged under 18.
He inappropriately touched a female pupil five times between September and October 2020 before sending lewd messages to another child between June and October of the following year.
He worked at the mixed 11-18 secondary school from September 2017 until May 2022 when he resigned.
Following two arrests in 2021 and 2022, in February 2024 he pleaded guilty at Colchester Magistrates’ Court to engaging in sexual communication with a child and sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17.
He was sentenced to a total of 17 months in prison, placed on the child sex offender register for life and issued with a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
On 7 January 2022, the Police referred the matter to the Teaching Regulation Agency.
A professional conduct panel hearing took place on 27 March this year.
The panel noted Berry’s actions were ‘highly relevant to teaching, working with children and working in an education setting’ and the offences were committed against two pupils.
The report said his behaviour had an impact on the safety and security of pupils and Berry’s immediate imprisonment was ‘indicative of the seriousness of the offences’.
Last year the headteacher of Newport’s Joyce Frankland Academy sent an email to parents, stating he was ‘deeply disappointed and disgusted’ by the actions of Berry.
In the court sentencing remarks the judge said: ‘The attempts to normalise your behaviour or conversations show that this was calculating. It was grooming behaviour.
‘I am extremely concerned that you do not yet appreciate the substantial serious effects which your behaviour had upon these young women.’
The judge said Berry was ‘not able to recognise’ he was sexually attracted to children and the pre-sentence report assessed him as being a high risk of harm to children.
Berry has been banned from teaching for life and cannot apply for this to be revoked.