- Tom Carson taught religion at Exeter School, but resigned in September 2021
- A teacher misconduct panel said he “exploited” a teenage girl
A married chaplain at a £17,000-a-year private school has been banned from teaching for life after kissing and touching a “highly vulnerable pupil for his own sexual gratification”.
The Rev. Tom Carson taught religion at Exeter School, but resigned in September 2021 after what the school called a “serious violation” of its protection policy affecting an 18-year-old student.
Now a misconduct panel at the Teaching Regulation Agency has said Carson committed “serious misconduct” by “exploiting” the teenager.
The panel said his conduct occurred over an extended period of time and was not a momentary lapse in judgment but “sustained conduct.”
He admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with Student A in 2021 off school premises, which led to hugging, holding hands, kissing and touching.
The Rev. Tom Carson taught religion at Exeter School but resigned in September 2021 after what the school called a “serious breach” of its safeguarding policy involving an 18-year-old pupil.
Now a misconduct panel at the Teaching Regulation Agency has said Carson committed “serious misconduct” by “exploiting” the Exeter School teenager.
The panel said his conduct was sexually motivated and told Student A to delete text messages and emails between them and give an edited version of their relationship when he resigned and that an investigation would be carried out.
She eventually reported her offence to the school principal and Student A’s mother, but said her actions brought the teaching profession into disrepute.
Reverend Tom, as he was known to pupils, was appointed in 2015 and was the school’s first full-time chaplain.
He taught religious studies to all ages and had previously been RS Headmaster at Wallington High School for Girls, joining from Mortlake and East Sheen in south-west London.
He is married to Marian and they have two children.
A misconduct panel for the Teaching Regulation Agency said: ‘Mr Carson was responsible for a number of failings in relation to his conduct towards Pupil A.
‘These included serious misconduct towards a very vulnerable pupil, where he exploited pupil A for his own sexual gratification.
‘Mr Carson’s actions had a significant detrimental impact on Student A’s life and have continued for several years.
Reverend Tom, as he was known to pupils, was appointed in 2015 and was Exeter School’s first full-time chaplain (pictured).
‘Mr. Carson’s dishonest actions in attempting to conceal the true nature of the relationship went hand in hand with his other exploitative actions with Student A.’
The Diocese of Exeter stated on its website that the Rev. Carson has ‘consented to a four-year ban from the office of Holy Orders for failing to observe appropriate professional boundaries through an inappropriate relationship with a young adult in his care.’
‘The ban began on December 9, 2021’
A letter was sent to parents of the independent co-educational school’s 900 pupils in September 2021 when Carson resigned.
The document states: ‘To the best of our knowledge, no criminal offence has been committed.
“It appears the offence was limited to a single pupil who left the school after completing his A-level studies. We continue to support the former pupil and his welfare and that of his family are our utmost concern.”
An independent investigation commissioned by the school at the time found “no evidence of a wider problem and we have no reason to believe that others have been affected.”
The gender of the student has not been revealed.