A teacher who engaged in a sexual relationship with a former student from a school where he had undergone training has been permanently barred from teaching.
Benjamin Steven Hiscox, aged 34, requested the student, known as Pupil A, to select a sex toy for him to purchase before her parents discovered the situation.
The training occurred at Madras College in St Andrews, where Pupil A was a student while Hiscox served as a math teacher at South Nottinghamshire Academy in Radcliffe on Trent. Allegations of a sexual relationship with a former student from the Scottish school were initially raised.
Following the parents’ awareness, the matter was investigated by Police Scotland and subsequently referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
According to the TRA report released on October 24, Pupil A began following Hiscox on Instagram, leading to sexual conversations and a meeting at a hotel in October 2022.
Statements from the pupil highlighted that Hiscox sent explicit videos and the interaction evolved into a sexual nature with shared images and videos.
The TRA panel concluded that Hiscox arranged and paid for the hotel meeting, where they engaged in sexual activities and consumed red wine. Plans for a subsequent meeting in January 2023 were thwarted when Pupil A informed her parents about the teacher rendezvous. Hiscox admitted to the purchase of a sex toy for the pupil.
Hiscox claimed ignorance about Pupil A’s age and former student status, stating he only learned about her age a week before the planned second meeting. However, Pupil A asserted she had disclosed this information earlier, to which Hiscox allegedly responded in a suggestive manner.
Despite no criminal charges due to the student’s age and the teacher-student relationship timing, the case was forwarded to the TRA, leading to Hiscox’s dismissal from South Nottinghamshire Academy in May 2023.
The TRA deemed Hiscox’s actions as sexually driven and permanently banned him from teaching in England. David Oakley, the TRA decision maker, emphasized the lack of remorse and insight, indicating a risk of reoccurrence and potential harm to students’ well-being.
Efforts to obtain comments from South Nottinghamshire Academy, Redhill Academy Trust, and Police Scotland by Mirror Online were made.