Scott Evans

Introduction

Scott Evans was a geography teacher and humanities curriculum leader at King Arthur’s School in South Somerset who in spring 2019 began privately messaging two of his own pupils on social media. He sent them indecent images of himself, encouraged them to send indecent images in return, exchanged sexual messages with them and incited them to engage in sexual activity while he communicated with them online. Both pupils were under 16 and were deemed vulnerable, and he had taught both since they were 11 years old. He was convicted at Taunton Crown Court in March 2021 and jailed, and in October 2023 he was banned from teaching for life.

Background Information

Evans joined King Arthur’s School in September 2012 as a Teacher of Geography. In 2014 he was appointed Curriculum Team Leader for Humanities alongside his teaching role, and he held both posts when his offending came to light. In October 2019 the police informed the school that he had been arrested for inappropriate conduct towards pupils. He was suspended, the local authority designated officer was notified, and after a disciplinary hearing on 2 March 2020 he was dismissed. He later pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Groomed two vulnerable pupils online. Evans admitted messaging two girls under 16 privately on social media, exchanging indecent images with them and inciting them to engage in sexual activity.

In a statement of agreed facts, Evans accepted that between April and May 2019 he began messaging Pupil A privately via social media using an account name redacted in the published decision, and that from around May 2019 he messaged Pupil B using a different account name. He admitted sending indecent images of himself to both pupils, encouraging them to send him indecent images and receiving such images of both. He further admitted engaging in sexual communication with them, including encouraging the pupils to delete the messages they exchanged, and causing them to engage in sexual activity by encouraging and inciting them to masturbate while he communicated with them via social media.

The panel noted the two pupils were deemed vulnerable persons and that Evans had been aware of this when he engaged in sexual communications with them. He had taught both since they were 11 years old, and the police report indicated, in the panel’s words, that “he had appeared to pick the two pupils because of their individual vulnerabilities” — a finding the panel attributed significant weight. It found his actions were “calculated and motivated”, that he knew what he was doing was wrong and proceeded for his own sexual gratification, and that there was “no persuasive evidence” he was remorseful.

On 9 March 2021 at Taunton Crown Court Evans was convicted of five offences: making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, and two counts of causing or inciting a female child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, the latter with no penetration. On 12 April 2021 he was sentenced to a total of 2 years and 4 months’ imprisonment, a sexual harm prevention order lasting 10 years, and 10 years on the sex offenders’ register. The panel observed that the offences were grave enough to warrant a custodial sentence of a not insignificant duration.

Public Reaction and Consequences

After his arrest became known, the school suspended and then dismissed Evans, and the matter was referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency. At his own request the allegation was considered without a hearing, on a statement of agreed facts he signed on 16 March 2023 in which he admitted the facts, the allegations and a conviction of a relevant offence. A panel met virtually in private on 2 October 2023 and found all allegations proved, treating the certificate of conviction as conclusive evidence. It found his conduct breached multiple Teachers’ Standards, including observing proper boundaries and safeguarding pupils’ wellbeing, and concluded that his behaviour fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher and that he had sought to exploit his position of trust. It recommended an immediate prohibition order with no review period.

Current Status

On 6 October 2023 Marc Cavey, deciding on behalf of the Secretary of State, prohibited Evans from teaching indefinitely. He cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. No review period was set, because the panel found no evidence of remorse and insufficient evidence of insight to indicate he would not pose a threat in the future, and Evans is not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. The determination itself was dated 2 October 2023, and the order takes effect from the date it is served, with a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days.

Impact on Their Career/Life

Evans’ teaching career, which began in 2012 and included seven years leading the humanities curriculum, ended with his March 2020 dismissal, and the prohibition order closes teaching in England to him permanently. His criminal convictions carry their own continuing consequences: a prison sentence served in 2021, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and 10 years on the sex offenders’ register. Because the ban carries no review period and no right to apply for restoration, there is no route back to the profession.

Sources

• Department for Education, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Scott Evans” — source