A Somerset teacher has been banned from the profession after sharing inappropriate personal details with pupils and breaching professional boundaries. Natasha Blackmore, 36, former head of design and technology at Westfield Academy in Yeovil, disclosed intimate aspects of her personal life, including her relationships and drunken episodes at a hen night, to her students.
Regulators found that Ms Blackmore frequently spent excessive time with certain pupils, discussing topics that extended beyond typical teacher-student interactions. She shared information about her breakups, new partners, and social activities such as drinking, vaping, and smoking. Additionally, she showed pupils text messages in which she spoke derogatorily about another individual.
The Teaching Regulation Agency’s professional conduct panel determined that Ms Blackmore’s behavior fell significantly short of professional standards. Reports detailed how up to five pupils regularly visited her during breaks and lunchtimes, with one pupil describing the relationship as more friendship than teacher-student. The panel also discovered that Ms Blackmore communicated with pupils through her personal social media, joined Instagram group chats with them, and even met pupils outside school hours, including at Yeovil Recreational Centre with her dog—actions that violated the staff code of conduct.
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Ms Blackmore admitted to unacceptable professional conduct and acknowledged her failure to maintain appropriate boundaries. She expressed remorse and recognized that she had “blurred the lines” of professionalism within the school setting. She emphasized the importance of the students’ support during a difficult time after the loss of her dog but acknowledged that her behavior was inappropriate.
Although a parent noted that they had no concerns about underhand behavior and praised Ms Blackmore as a good teacher, the panel concluded her conduct amounted to serious misconduct. Importantly, there was no evidence that any pupils were harmed by her actions.
The panel recommended Ms Blackmore be prohibited from teaching indefinitely, with the option to apply for a review in 2028.