A Somerset-based teacher, Natasha Blackmore, has been banned from teaching after sharing inappropriate personal information with pupils, severely breaching professional conduct standards.
Blackmore, the former head of design and technology at Westfield Academy in Yeovil, regularly met with a small group of students during breaks and after school. During these meetings, she divulged details about her relationships, her experiences of being drunk on a hen night, and other aspects of her personal life including vaping, smoking, and social situations.
The 36-year-old teacher was found to have crossed professional boundaries by engaging in extended and private conversations with multiple pupils. She admitted to discussing intimate topics such as breakups, new partners, and even sharing derogatory text messages exchanged with another person. Her conduct extended to allowing pupils to contact her via personal social media accounts, participating in pupils’ group chats, and arranging meetings outside of school hours, which violated the staff code of conduct.
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The Teaching Regulation Agency’s professional conduct panel reported that Ms. Blackmore’s behavior was “serious misconduct” and fell “significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.” One pupil described the relationship as evolving into a “weird” friendship where they shared everything, far beyond a typical teacher-student rapport. Up to five students regularly spent breaks and lunchtimes in her room, engaging in conversations about their personal lives and challenges.
Ms. Blackmore expressed that the students had been supportive during her personal distress following the loss of her dog, which she said helped her return to work. However, the panel concluded this did not justify her breaches of professional boundaries.
Despite a parent commenting that they “never suspected anything underhand” and regarded Ms. Blackmore as “a really good teacher,” the panel determined her conduct amounted to unacceptable professional behavior. Ms. Blackmore accepted her misconduct, expressing remorse and acknowledging that she had blurred the lines of professional behavior. She stated her awareness of where she went wrong and the need for better support in managing student relationships.
The panel confirmed there was no evidence of harm to pupils but recommended that Ms. Blackmore receive a prohibition order, barring her from teaching indefinitely. She may apply to have the ban reviewed in 2028.