COURTNEY PETTIFOR'S SHOCKING EMAILS FROM WITCHFORD VILLAGE COLLEGE LEAVE TEACHER BANNED
| Red Rose Database
Witchford Sexual Abuser
In January 2023, a significant disciplinary action was taken against Courtney Pettifor, a former physical education teacher at Witchford Village College near Ely in Cambridgeshire. Pettifor, aged 28, was permanently barred from teaching following an investigation into his inappropriate conduct involving multiple students.
The case centered around Pettiforâs extensive and inappropriate communication with several Year 11 pupils. Over a period of time, he sent thousands of emails that were characterized by an overly familiar, informal, and overly intimate tone. These messages often included terms of endearment such as 'darling,' 'sweetheart,' and 'babe,' and were peppered with emojis like hearts and winks. Pettiforâs language also included phrases like 'you love me,' and he frequently signed off with 'x' kisses and 'sending hugs.'
One particularly troubling email saw Pettifor writing to a student that he would 'run past your window every day up until Sunday from now, just for you x,' which raised serious concerns about the boundaries of his professional conduct. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) held a fitness to practice hearing on December 19, where it was revealed that Pettiforâs emails were sent late at night, during weekends, holidays, and even through periods of lockdown, further emphasizing the inappropriate nature of his communication.
During the hearing, it was established that Pettiforâs messages often contained affectionate language, including 'sending hugs,' and he used nicknames for students. He also asked at least one pupil to send pictures of themselves and made comments about their appearance, including remarks about their figure and tan lines. In one instance, he told a student they could be a model and described her as 'stunning.'
The panel heard that Pettifor admitted to failing to maintain appropriate boundaries with pupils in his emails. The investigation also uncovered that the mother of one student contacted the school, specifically calling Pettifor to demand that he cease contacting her daughter. Pettifor did not report this call to his line manager, which was viewed as a serious breach of protocol. The mother expressed her concern, stating, 'I found the tone of Mr Pettiforâs email exchange informal and worthy of a conversation with him directly so that teacher/student lines didnât become misconstrued by my daughter as friendship. I believe that Mr Pettifor was quite surprised by my call.'
Despite joining Witchford Village College in January 2018 and being nominated for the Best Teacher award at the Ely Hero Awards in 2020 for his dedication to extracurricular activities, Pettiforâs conduct was marred by dishonesty and poor judgment. The panel found that he had lied about his interactions with a pupil, claiming they were part of a 'formal mentoring arrangement' when no such agreement existed. He also provided his home address to at least one student and encouraged her to contact him outside school hours, offering free tutoring and Zoom sessions. Additionally, Pettifor falsely claimed to have personal ties to a studentâs family as a reason for his contact.
Throughout his employment, Pettifor was warned multiple timesâat least five occasionsâby Witchford Village College about maintaining proper boundaries. These warnings occurred in autumn 2019, spring 2020, autumn 2020, and December 2020. Despite these warnings, he failed to report safeguarding concerns raised during his interactions with pupils. His failure to act appropriately and his continued misconduct ultimately led to his dismissal for gross misconduct in March 2021.
The report concluded that Pettifor believed that, as a young teacher, students might confide in him about personal issues, which he saw as part of his role. He claimed to have been approached by students during break times and lunchtimes, attempting to assist them as much as possible. However, he acknowledged that he became overwhelmed by the volume of emails and recognized that he crossed professional boundaries, which was deemed unacceptable. The panel emphasized that his actions raised 'huge concerns' and that his conduct could potentially damage the reputation of the teaching profession. Pettiforâs case remains open for review after five years, but the current ruling permanently bans him from teaching.
The case centered around Pettiforâs extensive and inappropriate communication with several Year 11 pupils. Over a period of time, he sent thousands of emails that were characterized by an overly familiar, informal, and overly intimate tone. These messages often included terms of endearment such as 'darling,' 'sweetheart,' and 'babe,' and were peppered with emojis like hearts and winks. Pettiforâs language also included phrases like 'you love me,' and he frequently signed off with 'x' kisses and 'sending hugs.'
One particularly troubling email saw Pettifor writing to a student that he would 'run past your window every day up until Sunday from now, just for you x,' which raised serious concerns about the boundaries of his professional conduct. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) held a fitness to practice hearing on December 19, where it was revealed that Pettiforâs emails were sent late at night, during weekends, holidays, and even through periods of lockdown, further emphasizing the inappropriate nature of his communication.
During the hearing, it was established that Pettiforâs messages often contained affectionate language, including 'sending hugs,' and he used nicknames for students. He also asked at least one pupil to send pictures of themselves and made comments about their appearance, including remarks about their figure and tan lines. In one instance, he told a student they could be a model and described her as 'stunning.'
The panel heard that Pettifor admitted to failing to maintain appropriate boundaries with pupils in his emails. The investigation also uncovered that the mother of one student contacted the school, specifically calling Pettifor to demand that he cease contacting her daughter. Pettifor did not report this call to his line manager, which was viewed as a serious breach of protocol. The mother expressed her concern, stating, 'I found the tone of Mr Pettiforâs email exchange informal and worthy of a conversation with him directly so that teacher/student lines didnât become misconstrued by my daughter as friendship. I believe that Mr Pettifor was quite surprised by my call.'
Despite joining Witchford Village College in January 2018 and being nominated for the Best Teacher award at the Ely Hero Awards in 2020 for his dedication to extracurricular activities, Pettiforâs conduct was marred by dishonesty and poor judgment. The panel found that he had lied about his interactions with a pupil, claiming they were part of a 'formal mentoring arrangement' when no such agreement existed. He also provided his home address to at least one student and encouraged her to contact him outside school hours, offering free tutoring and Zoom sessions. Additionally, Pettifor falsely claimed to have personal ties to a studentâs family as a reason for his contact.
Throughout his employment, Pettifor was warned multiple timesâat least five occasionsâby Witchford Village College about maintaining proper boundaries. These warnings occurred in autumn 2019, spring 2020, autumn 2020, and December 2020. Despite these warnings, he failed to report safeguarding concerns raised during his interactions with pupils. His failure to act appropriately and his continued misconduct ultimately led to his dismissal for gross misconduct in March 2021.
The report concluded that Pettifor believed that, as a young teacher, students might confide in him about personal issues, which he saw as part of his role. He claimed to have been approached by students during break times and lunchtimes, attempting to assist them as much as possible. However, he acknowledged that he became overwhelmed by the volume of emails and recognized that he crossed professional boundaries, which was deemed unacceptable. The panel emphasized that his actions raised 'huge concerns' and that his conduct could potentially damage the reputation of the teaching profession. Pettiforâs case remains open for review after five years, but the current ruling permanently bans him from teaching.