THOMAS MARRIOTT BANNED FOR LIFE IN YORK OVER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Thomas Marriott, a 39-year-old teacher at a private school in York, has been permanently prohibited from teaching following a secret sexual relationship with a pupil. Earning an annual salary of £40,000, Marriott was employed as a history teacher and rowing coach at St Peter's School when he engaged in sexual acts with a female student on school grounds and instructed her to keep their relationship confidential. The misconduct panel described the affair as causing "significant harm" to the victim.

Marriott was reported to the police in November 2021 while serving as deputy headteacher at Princethorpe College near Rugby. He had started there in September 2021 but left three months later. In April 2023, he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person of trust at York Crown Court. During sentencing, he received a 21-month prison sentence suspended for two years, along with conditions including signing the sex offenders register for ten years and completing unpaid work.

The misconduct panel highlighted Marriott’s good disciplinary record and noted that colleagues and former pupils spoke positively about his impact as a teacher. Marriott argued he was unaware that his conduct was illegal, claiming he was recruited straight from university without a PGCE or similar qualification. Despite this, he accepted full responsibility and expressed remorse.

As a result, Marriott is now banned from teaching indefinitely in any school, sixth form college, children’s home, or other youth accommodation within England. This disciplinary action stemmed from an incident where Marriott engaged in inappropriate conduct with a pupil, violating teaching standards and constituting misconduct.

The school issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding and offering support to the victim. They also acknowledged that Marriott’s actions have undermined public confidence in the teaching profession.