Sacked RE teacher receives reprimand

A FORMER head of religious education at Saddleworth School who made inappropriate sexual and racial comments has been reprimanded by the General Teaching Council for England (GTC).

John O’Loughlin, who was dismissed for gross misconduct on July 6 last year, admitted that his actions amounted to unacceptable misconduct.

It happened at a time when he was experiencing difficult personal circumstances and he has apologised.

A GTC hearing in Birmingham heard that Mr O’Loughlin made an inappropriate comment of a sexual nature towards a member of staff on March 24, 2010.

Before March 24 he made inappropriate comments of a sexual and racial nature about members of staff, pupils and parents.

The GTC professional conduct committee noted that the single racial comment was made to a colleague about a pupil. There was no evidence that anyone else heard it.

Mr O’Loughlin joined Saddleworth School in September, 2005, as head of RE.

The committee ruled: “We are satisfied that in acting as he did Mr O’Loughlin’s conduct fell short of the standard expected of a registered teacher and was behaviour which involved a breach of the standards of propriety expected in the profession.”

The committee said it would not be in the interests of pupils, the public or the profession to close the case without making a disciplinary order.

Mr O’Loughlin was given a reprimand which will stay on his record for two years.

“This is an appropriate and proportionate sanction; teachers have a responsibility to maintain the standards expected of the profession,’ added the committee. “Mr O’Loughlin has accepted he acted inappropriately and has apologised. There is evidence that these events occurred at a time when Mr O’Loughlin was experiencing difficult personal circumstances.

“His apology demonstrated considerable remorse and insight. We have no evidence that his teaching ability was unsatisfactory.

“We viewed the single racial comment as serious and if it were not for this we would have considered closing the case without making a disciplinary order.”