A teacher in the UK has been dismissed from his position after being found guilty of inappropriate conduct towards students. Ian Shilling, who served as the head of music at Newlands Girls’ School in Maidenhead from September 2012 until October 2020, was reported to have engaged in a series of actions that constituted a “clear abuse” of his professional position.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel determined that Shilling exhibited a “calculated pattern of behaviour” aimed at fostering inappropriate relationships with his students. The findings revealed that he made inappropriate comments, including telling one pupil she had the “hottest, sexiest body in the world.” In his defence, Shilling acknowledged using “emotive language” but expressed regret over his choice of words.
According to the panel’s report, multiple students provided statements to police indicating that Shilling had sent them explicit images. He admitted to sharing these pictures, describing his actions as “completely wrong.” Following the incident, he deleted the explicit content from a chat and issued apologies.
In addition to the explicit messages, Shilling was found to have given gifts to students, including condoms. The panel also highlighted an incident where he sent a Valentine’s Day card containing an inappropriate message to one pupil. The TRA panel concluded that Shilling’s actions were not merely a lapse in judgment but rather a deliberate pursuit of sexual gratification.
In a written statement submitted to the TRA in 2023, Shilling expressed being “deeply apologetic and upset for any hurt, anxiety or stress” he caused. However, the panel dismissed his apology as “self-serving,” noting it failed to acknowledge the severity of his misconduct.
In response to the case, a spokesperson for Newlands Girls’ School stated that the safety of students is the school’s highest priority. “As soon as safeguarding concerns were raised about a member of teaching staff, we acted immediately by suspending the individual and raising a report to the TRA,” the spokesperson said.
The school expressed reassurance following the resolution of the case and reiterated its commitment to maintaining rigorous safeguarding standards.
