A woman has faced a teaching ban following inappropriate communication with an under-16 child, including messages with sexual content. Lianne Barclay, who previously worked as a food technology teacher at Bridgewater High School in Warrington, sent explicit messages, voice notes, and made calls to the child, identified as Child A.
The messages exchanged between March and July 2019 were deemed sexually motivated by a Teacher Regulation Agency panel. The content of the messages discussed intimate details of both Miss Barclay’s and the child’s sexuality, breaching professional boundaries with a minor under the age of 16.
Apart from sexual messages, Miss Barclay also sent messages with inappropriate language and discussed personal matters with the child. The panel highlighted the concerning nature of the messages and voice notes, emphasizing the misuse of social media to communicate with a child in such a manner.
Child A, not a student at the school where Miss Barclay taught, was interviewed by the police in August 2019, leading to Miss Barclay’s suspension in September and subsequent resignation in August 2020. Despite claiming a friendship with Child A, Miss Barclay’s actions were deemed unprofessional and unacceptable by the panel.
In response to the allegations, Miss Barclay defended her actions, citing her intentions as friendly and denying any sexual motives. However, the panel concluded that her behavior was inappropriate and could tarnish the teaching profession’s reputation. As a result, Miss Barclay has been indefinitely barred from teaching by the Teacher Regulation Agency.
Miss Barclay, originally from Newton-le-Willows, has since transitioned to a different career path, according to her LinkedIn profile. The severity of the allegations has led to her being permanently ineligible to apply for reinstatement to teaching roles in England.