A deputy headteacher at Clevedon School, near Bristol, has been indefinitely banned from teaching following inappropriate sexual messages sent to female colleagues.
Russell Gregory, who held the role of assistant headteacher responsible for ethos and outcomes, sent messages suggesting he would “love to watch” two female colleagues perform a lesbian sex act. He also sent explicit remarks to a junior colleague expressing affection when she was angry.
A professional conduct panel heard that Gregory, aged 46, was part of a WhatsApp group with two female colleagues where he repeatedly sent sexual messages despite requests to stop. The messages came to light after a male staff member saw them and reported the matter, leading to a disciplinary hearing at the school in 2023.
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During a Department for Education panel hearing in July 2024, Gregory admitted to sending some messages but denied sending the most explicit one involving the lesbian sex act comment. Despite denials, evidence showed the message was sent from an account with his name and profile picture. The panel called this denial “not plausible” and concluded he did send the messages on the balance of probabilities.
The panel criticised Gregory for a “flagrant disregard” of his professional responsibilities and noted that, although some messages were sent outside working hours, the WhatsApp group was connected to his employment since work-related topics were also discussed.
In a witness statement, Gregory expressed deep regret over the messages, acknowledging they damaged an otherwise strong working relationship. However, the panel found that his conduct fell significantly short of professional standards and would harm both his status and the perception of the teaching profession.
As a senior leader, Gregory was expected to serve as a positive role model. The panel highlighted a power imbalance within the WhatsApp group and described the sexually explicit messages as habitual behaviour. Such conduct was deemed to bring the profession into disrepute.
The panel recommended to the Secretary of State that Gregory be barred from teaching indefinitely, citing the need to protect other staff members. They noted limited insight and remorse from Gregory, with concerns that the behaviour could be repeated, posing risks to others' wellbeing.
The chair of the panel emphasised the importance of maintaining public confidence in the teaching profession and treating such misconduct with utmost seriousness, especially due to its sexual nature and targeting of junior staff members.