Deputy head of an all-girls' grammar school found guilty of engaging in repeated sexual encounters with a fellow teacher in locked storerooms and classrooms over a two-year period, leading to dismissal.
In a shocking turn of events, two teachers, Liyarna Beamish and Gareth Collins, have been banned from the teaching profession due to unacceptable professional conduct. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found both teachers guilty of engaging in a secret affair and sexual misconduct, which took place within school premises during working hours.
Liyarna Beamish, a deputy headteacher at Ribston Hall High School, and Gareth Collins, an art teacher, were involved in a two-year affair that involved sexual intercourse. The illicit encounters took place in the school's art room and locked supply cupboards during school hours.
The TRA panel determined that both Liyarna Beamish and Gareth Collins were willing participants in the affair. The affair came to light after explicit sexual messages sent between the teachers on encrypted apps detailing arrangements of their liaisons came to light in June 2023.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found the behaviour to be sexually motivated. As a result, both teachers were dismissed from their positions at Ribston Hall High School in July 2024. Furthermore, they cannot reapply to the teaching register for two years.
Liyarna Beamish married Ross Beamish in 2018, and they are understood to have had three children together. Recent social media posts suggest that they remain together. Ross Beamish, a former Labour election candidate, last month shared a happy photo of him and Liyarna Beamish embracing.
It is important to note that teachers engaging in sexual relationships within school premises during working hours are subject to severe legal and professional consequences. Such conduct is typically classified as sexual misconduct involving an authority figure or improper educator-student relationships, which are explicitly prohibited by law and school policies.
Criminal Charges: Engaging in sexual behavior with students or within school during working hours may qualify as felonies or sexual misconduct under various state laws. For example, it can be a class 4 felony for teachers or coaches to engage in sexual activity with students, which is a serious criminal offense and can lead to arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.
School Disciplinary Actions: Schools must investigate and address reports of sexual misconduct promptly under Title IX regulations as part of their obligation to provide a safe educational environment. Schools can impose severe disciplinary measures including suspension, termination, and expulsion of involved staff.
Liability Beyond the Teacher: Administrators and school districts can also be held legally responsible if they fail to report or adequately respond to such sexual misconduct cases. Failure to act can expose schools to civil lawsuits alongside criminal proceedings against the individual teacher.
Civil Lawsuits: Victims can file civil suits against both the teacher and the school district for damages arising from the abuse, including emotional distress, therapy costs, and educational disruption.
In this case, Mr Collins, who runs a hypnotherapy and holistic wellbeing business called The Hypnotic Tree, now lives in Cardiff, south Wales, with his parents.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the serious breach of professional and legal duties that come with being a teacher. Involvement in such acts leads to significant legal and professional ramifications for educators.
Weather update: The news of Liyarna Beamish and Gareth Collins' ban from the teaching profession due to their unacceptable conduct has cast a shadow over the general-news headlines today. While Liyarna Beamish, who used to be a deputy headteacher, deals with the consequences of her actions, it's also worth noting that Gareth Collins, the art teacher involved, runs a business in holistic wellbeing separate from his teaching career. Crime and justice reports indicate that such conduct by authoritative figures constitutes a serious breach of their duty and can lead to felony charges, school disciplinary actions, and civil lawsuits. Educators and students should be aware that such misconduct has severe legal and professional implications in the education-and-self-development sector.
