Headteacher Justine Drury banned after school trip where 'girl was blackmailed into sex and students drank'
Justine Drury, 52, was in charge of a trip to Switzerland in 2017. A panel heard pupils allegedly had sex, drank alcohol and had knives.
Thursday 19 December 2024 00:03, UK
A headteacher who was in charge of a school ski trip where a girl was said to have been blackmailed into having sex has been banned from teaching.
Justine Drury, 52, was head of CP Riverside School in Nottingham - which provides education for children aged 13 to 16 with behaviour or social issues - and was in charge of a trip to Switzerland in 2017.
A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel heard that during the school trip, pupils allegedly had sex, drank alcohol and had knives.
The panel was told one female student had sex with other male pupils in a hotel, including one who blackmailed her into also having sex with him after filming her.
It was also told a second female pupil allegedly had sex with another pupil for £30, and that three knives were found in one pupil's room.
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The TRA panel concluded allegations that pupils were involved in shoplifting, stealing bottles of spirits from the hotel and being intoxicated were also proven.
Its report said: "The panel determined that any ordinary person would view the number of incidents that took place, including sexual activity, criminal activity and underage drinking, and the lack of measures Mrs Drury had in place to deal with such instances, to be completely unacceptable."
The panel also noted Mrs Drury "had a blatant disregard for her professional standards" and said it saw "no evidence to suggest that she has any remorse or that she has learnt from her errors".
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The TRA, acting on behalf of education minister Bridget Phillipson, issued an indefinite prohibition notice for Mrs Drury working in education.
She cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children's home in England until 10 December 2029, when she can apply for the order to be set aside.