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Oxford teacher who appeared on ITV’s This Morning banned from profession over transgender and gay marriage row
An Oxford teacher has been barred from teaching for life following a series of serious allegations in August of last year. It was alleged that Mr Joshua Sutcliffe was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct whilst employed as a Maths Teacher at The Cherwell School between September 2015 and February 2018.
Allegations include failing to use a student’s preferred pronoun, expressing his views on the wrongfulness of gay marriage and more. A professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) convened on several occasions throughout the year regarding the case of the Marston-based teacher.
The TRA has decided that ultimately Mr Sutcliffe is ‘prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.’ This decision can be reviewed after two years.
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The student is referred to as ‘Pupil A’ throughout the proceedings. Mr Sutcliffe faced a litany of accusations across four separate periods.
The Allegations
On one or more occasions, failed to use Pupil A’s preferred pronoun, including:
- In the classroom during teaching
- Whilst appearing on a nationally televised programme “This Morning”
- Within an email to the school, dated 8 December 2017
On one or more occasions, expressed his views to pupils on the wrongfulness of equal marriage and/or homosexuality during Maths lessons, by making the following comments, or comments to the effect of
- He was against gay marriage
- Person D through God had stopped being gay as it was wrong
Whilst employed as a Maths teacher at St Aloysius College, Islington, between September 2018 and November 2018, he engaged in inappropriate and/or unprofessional behaviour, including by:
On or around 18 October 2019, during the school day, showing pupils a video(s) about masculinity, which contained inappropriate comments, including the following comments, or comments to the effect of:
In or around October – November 2019, encouraging or directing pupils to watch his YouTube channel and uploading one of more videos to his YouTube account, which contained inappropriate content such as;
- “Mohammed is a false prophet”
- “If we look at Islam in the modern generation, we see that many people go outkilling in the name of Allah”
- “I would suggest that Muslims have a false understanding of God because they’ve been led by a false prophet”
- “The Fruit of Islam is not peace, it’s division”
- “It’s the beginning of a great evil in this land when we’re not able to speak against Islam”
- “Joseph Smith is a false prophet… these are false and destructive heresies”
Mr Sutcliffe denied all allegations.
Suspended after ‘This Morning’ appearance
Mr Sutcliffe began his employment at The Cherwell School on September 1, 2015. More than two years later, on November 2, 2017, the school received a complaint from Pupil A’s parent.
Mr Sutcliffe was subsequently relieved of classroom teaching duties and worked in the school staffroom while an investigation into his conduct was launched. On November 8 2017, Mr Sutcliffe was informed that he was required to attend a disciplinary hearing on November 15 2017.
However, two days prior to this, on November 13, Mr Sutcliffe did not attend The Cherwell school and appeared on the ITV television programme ‘This Morning’ to discuss his case. On the same day, he was suspended from his job.
On January 31 2018, a disciplinary hearing was held at The Cherwell school. Mr Sutcliffe was not in attendance.
He was subsequently dismissed from his position at the school. In September 2018, Mr Sutcliffe commenced employment at St Aloysius College, Islington in London.
But on October 18 2019, Pupil F’s parent made a complaint regarding Mr Sutcliffe. On November 1, 2019, another pupil’s parent made a complaint regarding Mr Sutcliffe. and on the same day, Mr Sutcliffe resigned from his position.
‘Men are not masculine enough’
The TRA’s investigation led to them finding that whilst employed as a Maths Teacher at The Cherwell School between September 2015 and February 2018, he failed to use Pupil A’s preferred pronoun in the classroom, on ITV’s This Morning, and within an email to the school, dated December 8, 2017
On one or more occasions, he expressed his views to pupils on the wrongfulness of equal marriage and/or homosexuality during Maths lessons such as stating he was against gay marriage and that Person D through God had stopped being gay as it was wrong.
Whilst employed as a Maths teacher at St Aloysius College, Islington, between September 2018 and November 2019, he continued to express his controversial views. He made comments that: “The growing problem in today’s society is that men are not masculine enough.”
He added: “When men deny their masculinity, they run away from responsibilities leaving destruction and devastation in their wake. Children who grow up without a father are generally more depressed than their peers who have a mother and father.
“They are at a far greater risk of incarceration, teen pregnancy, and poverty. 71 per cent of High School dropouts are fatherless.”
He continued: “Women want real men…I don’t know any woman of any age who is attracted to a passive man who looks to her to be his provider, protector, and leader. Passive men don’t defend, protect, or provide. Passive men do not lead.”
Final conclusion
On behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, the findings concluded that there will be a two-year review period following the decision. The findings conclude: “Mr Joshua Sutcliffe is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
“He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 15 May 2025, two years from the date of this order at the earliest. This is not an automatic right to have the prohibition order removed.
“If he does apply, a panel will meet to consider whether the prohibition order should be set aside. Without a successful application, Mr Joshua Sutcliffe remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely.”
The full decision, evidence given and more can be found here.
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