Teacher Fiona Simpson avoids ban after explicit book incident

Fiona Simpson, who taught A-level photography at Burlington House School in Fulham, has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). The panel's findings relate to her actions between November 2022 and March 2023, during which she provided a vulnerable pupil with books containing explicit imagery and engaged in inappropriate physical contact.

Explicit materials provided to pupil

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The books in question, "Diary" by Corinne Day and "Emotions & Relations," included images depicting drug use, oral sex, a naked man with an erect penis, and a blood-splattered bedroom. Ms Simpson defended her actions to the TRA panel, stating she did not believe in 'censoring the arts' and that A-level students are 'young adults' who should be exposed to the history of photography. The panel, however, branded her justification as 'misguided' and stressed the disregard for the needs of a vulnerable pupil, noting there was no evidence of supervision or contextualisation for the graphic images.

Other misconduct findings

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In addition to providing the explicit books, Ms Simpson was found to have struck the pupil on the bottom with a book or magazine. CCTV footage showed her swinging the object towards the pupil as they walked in front of her. Ms Simpson maintained this was accidental and a gesture to prompt the pupil to return to lessons. The panel determined the contact was 'inappropriate' and 'entirely unwarranted'. Furthermore, she escorted an unwell pupil to a café during school hours, an action the panel deemed a safeguarding breach.

Decision on teaching ban

Burlington House School terminated Ms Simpson's employment in March 2023, during her probation period, and reported her to the TRA in June of that year. Following a hearing in October 2026, the panel concluded that Ms Simpson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. Nevertheless, the panel recommended against prohibiting her from teaching, stating her misconduct fell at the 'lower possible end of the spectrum'. The panel noted a risk of repetition but determined that publicising its conclusions would alert employers to potential dangers and allow schools to implement oversight measures.