TEACHER STRUCK OFF AFTER GROOMING AND SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENT.
A misconduct panel determined that a teacher who had a sexual affair with a former student was subsequently subjected to financial blackmail involving grooming claims.Ruqaiyah Akhtar, aged 42, was employed at Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy from 2020 to 2021 when a former pupil from an earlier school tried to extort money and a new vehicle from her.
This pupil, who Ms.
Akhtar taught at Kingsford Community School in east London in 2014, accused her of grooming and engaging in sexual activity starting from the age of 16.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) published a misconduct report last week, recommending that Ms.
Akhtar face an indefinite ban from teaching.
The panel noted that there was insufficient evidence to suggest any sexual contact or grooming occurred before the pupil turned 18.
However, it found that she had had sexual relations with him in 2017 and 2020 when he was over 18.
“The pupil was over 18, but the panel believed he remained vulnerable.
Ms.
Akhtar was 16 years older than the pupil and had held a position of authority previously, as his form tutor,” the report stated.
This sexual relationship happened after Ms.
Akhtar left Kingsford but prior to her joining Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy in summer 2020, the panel concluded.
The pupil admitted to attempting to blackmail Ms.
Akhtar in 2020, demanding “pay me money and I won’t take you to court.” He acknowledged that his actions were wrong, citing mental health struggles as a factor.
WhatsApp messages presented to the misconduct panel showed Ms.
Akhtar telling the pupil, “you say you love me but you let someone convince you I groomed you.” In August 2020, Ms.
Akhtar contacted police, explaining that she was worried for her safety due to “abuse, threats, and blackmail.” However, she did not disclose to her new employer until January 2021 that she was facing grooming allegations.
In a personal reflection, Ms.
Akhtar described her decision to engage with the pupil as “ill-advised,” admitting it had led to her exploitation, which she felt the pupil exploited.
The panel criticized her for focusing mainly on her own perspective in her reflection, and noted her failure to acknowledge the impact of her actions on the pupil and his family.
The pupil shared that he continues to experience significant mental trauma, stating, “It has changed my life.
It pushed me to the point I had to push everyone away as I didn’t know who to trust.” Sarah Buxcey, the decision-maker at the TRA, concluded that Ms.
Akhtar should be banned from teaching indefinitely.
A spokesperson for Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy stated that once the allegations from her previous schools surfaced, the institution followed safeguarding procedures, contacted the appropriate authorities, and completed necessary risk assessments, including referring the case to the TRA.
They added that Ms.
Akhtar resigned during an internal disciplinary process, which was completed regardless, and emphasized that the misconduct described in the TRA report did not occur at their school.
