GUNSEL AKYOL BANNED FROM TEACHING IN WOODLEY AFTER SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PUPILS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the educational community in Woodley, Gunsel Akyol, a 64-year-old former teacher, has been officially prohibited from practicing his profession following allegations of engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships with students at Waingels College.

During a misconduct hearing held by the Department for Education in February, Mr. Akyol admitted to having had sexual relationships with two female pupils during different periods spanning over a decade. The hearing revealed that he maintained a relationship with a girl referred to as Pupil A from 1991 to 1993, and with another girl, known as Pupil B, from 1999 to 2002.

Mr. Akyol confessed to having a sexual relationship with Pupil A while she was still attending Waingels College, and further acknowledged engaging in sexual activity and/or intercourse with her during her time at the school and shortly after her departure. He also admitted to cohabiting with Pupil A after she left the institution, which compounded the severity of the misconduct.

Similarly, regarding Pupil B, Mr. Akyol admitted to developing a romantic relationship with her while she was a student at Waingels College. He acknowledged that he engaged in sexual activity and/or intercourse with her during her years at the school and shortly after she had left. Once again, he admitted to living with her after her departure from the college, raising serious concerns about the nature of his conduct.

Mr. Akyol’s employment at Waingels College began in January 1988. However, after 28 years of service, he was suspended in May 2016 following disclosures from the former pupils about their relationships with him. Pupil A first reported her relationship to the school authorities in February 2005. Despite this, Mr. Akyol received only a final written warning from Waingels College a month later.

It was not until May 2016 that Pupil B disclosed her relationship with Mr. Akyol, leading to his suspension and the initiation of a disciplinary investigation. Ultimately, Mr. Akyol resigned from his position in August 2016 amid the ongoing inquiry.

The Department for Education’s panel concluded that both relationships were sexually motivated, a point that Mr. Akyol had previously denied. On March 7, the decision was finalized by Dawn Dandy, who acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, to ban Mr. Akyol from teaching.

The panel’s report emphasized that Mr. Akyol had deliberately initiated, developed, and engaged in sexual relationships with two Sixth Form pupils, fully aware that such conduct breached the professional boundaries expected of educators. The report highlighted that he concealed these relationships and encouraged the pupils to do the same, which further demonstrated his misconduct.

In its conclusion, the panel stated, “The conduct of Mr. Akyol amounts to serious misconduct that falls significantly short of the standards expected of the teaching profession. Accordingly, the panel finds Mr. Akyol guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.”

As a result of this ruling, Gunsel Akyol is now permanently barred from teaching in any educational institution within England, including schools, sixth form colleges, youth accommodations, or children’s homes, effectively ending his career in education in the region.