A teacher who sent inappropriate messages via social media to a former student has been banned from the profession for two years.

Ryan Gilks was employed as an expressive arts teacher at St Joseph’s Catholic College, in Swindon, between 2008 and 2011 and for a month at the start of 2014. 

He was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by a panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency.

The incidents surfaced in 2014 after Pupil A - who Mr Gilks had taught between 2008 and 2011 - told her tutor about communication between her and Mr Gilks in 2013, which occurred when Mr Gilks had accepted a social media request to connect with her.

Mr Gilks was alleged to have engaged in inappropriate communication on Facebook with Pupil A, sending her messages seeking information about her whereabouts, offering to buy her food and commenting on her relationship with her boyfriend.

Examples of his messages are: 

• “Guess i [sic] wanna see ya.”
• “You were on my mind today though.” 
• “Oh dear, he’s one of those who take photos of themselves in the mirror….”
• “Cool. Still with your fella?” 

He also sent the student a message suggesting it was “kinda OK” for girls to take photos of themselves, and asked, “So any other pics from your dressing up earlier?”

Teacher ‘exploited his influential role as her teacher’

Another message said he was “thinking of my lovely lady as I go to bed”.

Although the incidents took place outside of the education setting, the panel noted that, having previously taught Pupil A, Mr Gilks had gained her trust in his role as her teacher.

The panel’s report notes: “Mr Gilks had exploited his influential role as her teacher in the sustained contact with Pupil A.”

According to the report, Mr Gilks admitted the allegations and apologised to the student’s family, his own family and the schools involved.

He also said he was ashamed of his conduct and acknowledged that he had “fallen horrendously short” of the standards required of a teacher.

However, the panel found that he had not demonstrated a complete understanding of the implications of his actions.

The report reads: “Mr Gilks was able to reflect and show some insight into his conduct.

“However, the panel was not satisfied that he has demonstrated a complete understanding of the implications of his actions. He appeared unable to distinguish between his actions and his emotional response towards particular individuals involved.”

This lack of complete insight was a significant factor in recommending a ban for two years, the report reads.

The panel’s view was that a period of two years will enable Mr Gilks to demonstrate that he has developed complete insight - although Mr Gilks himself was unsure whether he’d like to go back to teaching.

Acting for the secretary of state for education, decision-maker Sarah Buxcey agreed with the panel’s recommendations and said: “In my judgement, the lack of complete insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour. I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.

“In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.”