An academy teacher was dismissed after failing to report a serious safeguarding disclosure, a disciplinary hearing has heard. Jason Steel was sacked from Retford Oaks Academy in March 2020, following an investigation conducted by the Teaching Regulation Agency which found that he had showed a lack of insight for the potential risks to two students in December 2019.
The 34-year-old had been a PE teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator at the school since September 2017. Mr Steel admitted to failing to report a serious safeguarding disclosure made to him regarding a pupil within 24 hours, as well as failing to provide sufficient information in his “My Concern Report” to reflect the seriousness of the disclosure made by the pupil.
He also admitted to speaking to another pupil about the disclosure after Nottinghamshire Police became involved in the investigation. In a statement of agreed facts, Mr Steel accepted that “each of the allegations amount to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute”.
