Dr Esther Garcia Rodriguez, an Oxford based teacher is banned from teaching. She was a science teacher at the Oxford Spires Academy and has been banned from teaching after she gave a male pupil a copy of The Reader, told him she loved him and sent ‘flirtatious’ messages to a former pupil who was under 16.
A professional conduct panel (‘the panel’) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (‘the TRA’) convened on 23 and 24 May 2024, to consider the case of Dr Esther Garcia Rodriguez. The hearing took place by way of a virtual hearing in public.
What did the teacher do?
The teacher gave the pupil a copy of The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. The book was adapted into a film staring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes in 2008 and is about a 15-year-old boy’s sexual relationship with an older woman, who became a guard at a Nazi concentration camp. It was put to the panel that the novel was ‘sexually suggestive’. She also discussed stockings with the pupil and how female scientists ‘should dress’. It was found that this discussion was prompted by a photograph of the NCIS television drama character, Abby Sciuto. She remarked this is how female scientists ‘should dress’ and this became a running joke with the students.
The panel heard that the teacher invited the pupil to her birthday dinner, along with fellow male pupils. She also regularly drove him to a pub on the way home and to a ‘secluded location’. This was admitted by the teacher.
In addition to this, the teacher admitted to engaging in regular inappropriate conduct with the pupil both in person and via WhatsApp. In one email she also wrote “love you” to the pupil. They often discussed his relationship issues.
When arrested the teacher told the police that she treated the pupil “like an adoptive son” and when telling him she loved him it “wasn’t in a romantic way but in a caring way, like love for a son”.
Previous professional conduct issues
The teacher previously taught at Fitzharrys School in Abingdon, where she sent “very flirtatious” messages to a boy under the age of 16 in 2009 and 2010. She told the boy he was “good looking” and herself had “bought the most gorgeous and sexy dress”, which was “shiny and skin-fit, with low cleavage”. She told the boy she would send him a photograph so he could “dream for the next two years” but he was told to ‘keep her as his secret to avoid embarrassment’.
She was not charged with any offence for this but received a sexual risk order at Oxford magistrates court in 2020. This prevented her from communicating with any male under 18 unless they were immediate family or close friends until July 2023.
TRA panel outcome
On 24 May 2024, the panel found that Dr Garcia Rodriquez was in breach of the following standards:
- Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by
- Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position;
- having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions;
- showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others.
- Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality.
- Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.
The panel found that the conduct of Dr Garcia Rodriquez fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. The recommendation was made to the Secretary of State that Dr Garcia Rodriguez should be the subject of a prohibition order, with no provision for a review period.
How can Moore Barlow help?
We provide bespoke advice to schools on issues relating to teachers crossing boundaries and breaching staff codes of conduct. When this reaches the harm threshold referrals should be made. We can advise on all aspects of Safeguarding at independent schools.
Please get in touch with our Independent schools team for assistance.
Cerys Cousins
