A teacher in Maidenhead has been banned from her profession after a panel determined that she suggested to a parent that other staff members were unfairly targeting their child. Erin Dempsey, who taught history at Furze Platt Senior School in Berkshire, was also found to have improperly contacted the student via WhatsApp using her personal phone. Additionally, she altered attendance and detention records, raising serious concerns about her conduct.
A spokesperson for the school emphasized the institution’s strong commitment to the health, welfare, and safeguarding of everyone in the community, particularly the students. In a ruling by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), Dempsey's registration as a teacher was revoked for a period of two years. After this time, she will need to reapply if she wishes to resume her teaching career.
In an email correspondence with the parent, Dempsey mentioned that their child was "not the only one facing challenges" with another staff member, which the panel deemed "inappropriate and unprofessional." Moreover, the panel criticized the extent of Dempsey's communications with the pupil through WhatsApp and email, labeling them as “extensive” and “inappropriate,” as they seldom pertained to the academic material she was responsible for teaching.
The panel acknowledged that while Dempsey appeared to be "motivated by a desire" to assist the pupil, her actions constituted a serious violation of professional standards. Dempsey had been employed at the school from September 2023 until her resignation in April 2024, following a suspension in March of the same year.
Originally qualified as a teacher in Canada, Dempsey was noted to be an unqualified teacher in the UK, according to the TRA. The spokesperson for the school further highlighted that the judgement recognized the safeguarding training and measures enforced at Furze Platt Senior School. It was the school's own community that raised the initial concerns, leading to swift action that included an investigation and cooperation with external agencies, ultimately resulting in the referral to the TRA.
Furze Platt Senior School remains dedicated to maintaining the highest safeguarding standards for its staff and ensuring that their priority is supporting and educating students to grow into successful young adults.
