A former teacher who engaged in sexual relationships with two students, one of whom she had a child with, has been permanently barred from teaching.
Rebecca Joynes, aged 31, joined the school where the incidents occurred in 2018, teaching students aged 11 to 18. She taught math to two boys, known as Pupil A and Pupil B, during their Year 11.
Legal proceedings commenced in October 2021, revealing sexual encounters, including intercourse, between Joynes and Pupil A on October 15, 2021. Following the report to the authorities, Joynes was suspended from her teaching position and placed on bail by the police.
Despite the bail conditions, Joynes continued communication with Pupil B, aged 15 at the time, leading to two instances of sexual activity in January 2022. The illicit relationship persisted after Pupil B turned 16 in February 2022, involving regular sexual encounters, including penetrative sex, until June 2022 when Pupil B left the school. Joynes became pregnant with Pupil B’s child in March 2023, and the relationship ceased in June 2023.
Joynes was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in July by the Manchester Crown Court for six sexual offenses against the two students. Philip Thompson, who chaired the Teaching Regulation Agency panel, emphasized the severe and enduring harmful impact of Joynes’ actions on the students’ safety and well-being.
Highlighting the lack of remorse and insight from Joynes, Marc Cavey, speaking on behalf of the Education Secretary, stressed the risk of potential recurrence of such behavior, posing a threat to students’ future welfare. The decision to ban Joynes from teaching was heavily influenced by the gravity of the offenses involving sexual misconduct with minors.
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