Former Clitheroe Royal Grammar teacher to face misconduct hearing

Simon Mumford was Head of Physics at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School between September 2013 and July 2023.

A hearing into teacher misconduct in the Mumford case from Lancaster began on Tuesday (September 3), chaired by Stephen Chappell.

Mr Chappell told the hearing it was alleged Mumford failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with a pupil in his final year at his school, referred to only as Student A.

Mumford, a teacher with over 25 years' experience, is said to have organised an unauthorized overnight camping trip to Priest's Hole Cave in the Lake District in June 2021.

It is further alleged that Mumford had contact with Student A outside of school hours, either in person or through Microsoft Teams, and had inappropriate physical contact with him.

He allegedly kissed her on the cheek, touched her leg, slept next to them, put his arms around her shoulders and leaned over her.

It is further alleged that Mumford told Student A that he loved him or used equivalent words, addressed her insecurities, and that the conduct was sexual in nature and/or sexually motivated.

Mumford admitted that he organized and conducted the overnight camping trip, but denied that this constituted a breach of professional boundaries with Student A.

He also admitted to having had contact with Student A outside of class hours.

He denied kissing Student A on the cheek/face, denied touching his leg, and said he was sleeping across the row on the camping trip.

While he admitted to placing his arms on or around her shoulders during the trip, he denied that this was inappropriate physical contact and said it was only to provide support and encouragement.

He also denied having leaned over Student A, stating that the limited space allowed him to lean over them, but that he did not do so in a way that would cause them discomfort or bring them unnecessarily close.

He also denied expressing his love for Student A or using words of that nature, but said it was possible that he had reminded them that they had family/friends who cared for and loved them.

Mumford denied that this conduct was unacceptable professional conduct and that it damaged the reputation of the profession.

Heather Andersen, legal adviser to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), described Student A as “extremely vulnerable” and said Mumford was aware of this.

Ms Andersen said Mumford was “very familiar with safety measures” and “must therefore have been aware that the trip was beyond the capabilities of a professional teacher”.

She added: “We say his behaviour was far from what is expected of a teacher.”

Lee Hughes, who is appearing for Mumford, said of the contact outside of school hours, some of which took place via Microsoft Teams, that he would not be indifferent to knocking on a teacher's door after school and speaking to them in person.

The hearing will continue.