A DRAMA teacher has been banned from the classroom after meeting with a student in his flat late at night and giving them cigarettes and alcohol.

Former Brighton College director of drama Thomas Kenwright, 32, admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, a report from the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) published this week revealed.

Between November 2018 and November 2019, he met with one pupil, referred to as Pupil A in the report, alone in his flat, including late at night. He also met with two further pupils at his flat - referred top as Pupil B and Pupil C. All three children were 15 at the time.

He allowed Pupils A, B and C to drink alcohol, smoke and vape on one or more occasions,

Mr Kenwright admitted this behaviour in a Statement of Agreed Facts submitted to the TRA.

He was employed as the director of drama, as well as a deputy housemaster, at Brighton College from January 3 2017.

In his role as deputy housemaster, he had a residential role, supporting the housemaster and housemistress in the running of a boarding house.

The TRA report states: "On November 29, 2019, a pupil from another boarding house raised concerns regarding Mr Kenwright’s behaviour towards Pupils A, B and C.

"It was alleged that, on more than one occasion, Mr Kenwright had permitted Pupil A, Pupil B and Pupil C to attend his residential flat.

"It was further alleged that Mr Kenwright supplied those pupils with alcohol, cigarettes and/or vapes to use in his presence. Pupil A and Pupil B were 16 and Pupil C were 15 years of age at the time. Mr Kenwright resigned on December 2, 2019."

Mr Kenwright admitted that he had met with Pupil A on several occasions, one to one, in his flat, including late at night. The pupil, he confirmed, had been allowed to use, and was supplied with, cigarettes, vapes and alcohol.

He said the items had been in his flat and were not brought by the pupil.

Mr Kenwright also admitted that he had also supplied pupils A, B and C with alcohol, cigarettes and vapes to use in his presence on separate occasions.

He asked all three pupils concerned to keep their meetings, drinking and smoking a secret.

The TRA report stated: "The panel was satisfied that Mr Kenwright's admissions that he had sought to conceal his conduct meant that his actions were deliberate.

"The panel was satisfied that any teacher asking pupils to keep his conduct secret and not to discuss them with anybody else would be regarded as dishonest by ordinary decent people.

"The panel was, therefore, satisfied that Mr Kenwright's conduct was dishonest.

"As to lacking integrity, the panel was satisfied that Mr Kenwright's conduct was a breach of the ethical standards of the teaching profession and, therefore, amounted to a lack of integrity."

The TRA also found him in breach of Teachers' Standards including:

  • 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. And they must have regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions.
  • Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and
  • practices of the school in which they teach.
  • Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory
  • frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

As a result, he was found guilty of "unacceptable professional conduct".

The report stated: "Mr Kenwright's conduct in question here took place frequently late at night in his private accommodation supplied by the school and on the school grounds.

"The findings of misconduct were serious and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative

impact on the individual’s status as a teacher, potentially damaging the public perception.

"The panel therefore found that Mr Kenwright's actions constituted conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute."

The TRA report, published on Monday, recommended that the Secretary of State should impose a prohibition order on Mr Kenwright as he had been found to have fallen "significantly short of the standards expected of the profession"

This order would prevent Mr Kenwright from teaching, with a review period of two years.

Sarah Buxcey of the TRA said: "This means that Mr Thomas Kenwright is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

"He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until February 24, 2023, two years from the date of this order at the earliest.

"This is not an automatic right to have the prohibition order removed. If he does apply, a panel will meet to

consider whether the prohibition order should be set aside.

"Without a successful application, Mr Kenwright remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

"This order takes effect from the date on which it is served on the teacher."