Teacher who took pupils to strip club while drunk banned from teaching

He also threatened to ‘kick the head in’ of a pupil.

An IT teacher from a private school in Northumberland has been banned from teaching for three years after admitting gross misconduct.

The Teaching Regulation Agency heard that Richard Glenn, 55, had been sent home from Longridge Towers School’s trip to Costa Rica in July 2019 because his behaviour was so unacceptable.

Amongst other misdemeanours, Glenn had taken students to a strip club whilst he was drunk, allowed the pupils themselves to drink despite them being under 18, and threatened to “kick the head in” of one pupil and “kill” another.

The misconduct panel also heard that Glenn had kissed the forehead of a student after having been aggressive to them, acted aggressively to the trip leader when she tried to help him back to his tent, and exposed himself to the woman in a shared hotel room.

The teacher taught computer science at the £4,850-a-term school and had been head of sixth form since 2007. He was one of the leaders of the group of 16 to 18-year-olds that went to Costa Rica on 5 July 2019.

However he was sent home after just six days, having supposed to have been there until 28 July. You won’t be surprised to hear that he was dismissed from the school the following month.

The panel said that his behaviour had “placed one or more pupils in his care at risk.” The panel did add though that there was “no malice or sexual intent” in Glenn taking the pupils to the strip club.

Mr Glenn admitted that it was “inappropriate and unprofessional” of him to fail to control the situation. He added that he couldn’t remember what happened because he was so drunk, but “did not dispute the recollection of those present.”

The report read: “Mr Glenn was, at various times during the school trip, under the influence of alcohol, and therefore not in a position to adequately take decisions or act in loco parentis should the need arise.