Teacher, 31, banned for sending 11-year-old boy sexual Instagram and Snapchat messages

A 31-YEAR-OLD teacher has been banned after sending an 11-year-old boy sexual Instagram and Snapchat messages.

Kay Hollingsworth, who taught at Motley Green Primary School in Essex, was banned in May last year for sending suggestive messages to her pupil through the social media apps. 

One read: “About to have a shower #mental image for you lol.”

Another explained she had broken up with her partner and was now “single and ready to mingle.”

In others she called him “dimples”, claimed the pupil loved her and offered to delete the messages “in case someone sees it.”

She admitted she was guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing in Coventry, where she was banned from teaching for two years. 

She said: “I am shocked and horrified by what I wrote, putting the pupil in an inappropriate position, the school's reputation in jeopardy and my own career, which I have dedicated nine successful years, in ruin.

Alan Meyrick of the National College of Teaching and Leadership said the actions of Miss Hollingsworth was “a serious departure from the personal and professional conduct elements of Teachers Standards.

He said: “The nature of the conversations passing between Miss Hollingsworth and Pupil A (which included sexual references and innuendo) and the age of Pupil A, pushed the behaviour over the boundary of seriousness.

“I agree with the panel that most parents of 11 year olds would think Miss Hollingsworth's behaviour was inappropriate and serious.

“I also support the view of the panel that Miss Hollingsworth's actions constituted an abuse of her position of trust, in that parents put their trust in teachers to behave in an appropriate manner towards pupils.

“Miss Hollingsworth had not behaved appropriately towards current and former pupils and had recognised that she had acted in violation of her position when she pleaded with Pupil A's parents not to tell the school."

Due to her remorse, Ms Hollingsworth will be able to appeal against the ban after two years and, if successful, teach again.