One of York’s best known teachers is facing a misconduct hearing.
John Tomsett, headteacher of Huntington School, is set to appear before the professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency later this month.
Huntington parents received a letter earlier this term saying Mr Tomsett was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.
His deputy heads have taken over in his absence.
Hearing details
The reasons for the hearing have not been disclosed. According to the agency website, the case is connected to his former employment in Eastbourne.
The hearing is due to take place between October 22 and 26.
Mr Tomsett told YorkMix that he wasn’t able to comment before the hearing.
City of York Council say it would be inappropriate for it to comment ahead of the regulatory process.
Outstanding school
He is a high profile champion of teaching standards, and a founding member of the Headteachers’ Roundtable, a group set up to influence education policy “so that it centres upon what is best for the learning of all children”.
In the past 12 months Mr Tomsett has led Huntington School to its first outstanding rating by Ofsted.
He also hailed the school’s ‘best ever’ A level and GCSE results this summer.
Mr Tomsett is the author of a number of books, the most recent on improving mental health in schools.
In June, he welcomed education secretary Damian Hinds to the school. It was an opportunity “to explain to him the benefits to our students of an evidence-informed approach to teaching and learning”.
Mr Hinds said: “I was privileged to visit Huntington School and meet so many dedicated, passionate teachers and engaged pupils.
“I was particularly impressed by the pupils’ interest in current affairs and politics, the artwork I saw and their all-round enthusiasm for school.”
Teacher misconduct hearing
“The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) receives referrals from employers, the public, the police, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and other interested organisations, or other regulators.
“The TRA carries out a formal investigation. It will first inform the teacher and referrer that they have 28 days to submit evidence.
“The TRA considers the evidence, seeking advice from experts when needed, including from teaching, medical, legal professions and decides whether to proceed to a hearing.
“Where a case is referred to a professional conduct panel, the teacher and referrer are informed and invited to give any further evidence. A panel (usually 3 members made up of professional and lay members) hears evidence (from teachers and witnesses) and the panel decides whether facts have been proven and, if so, whether to recommend to the Secretary of State that a prohibition
order would be appropriate or not.”
Source: Teaching Regulation Agency