A former maths teacher who groomed and sexually exploited a school girl has been barred from being a teacher for life.
Richard Chipchase was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child in 2021. He was formerly a maths teacher at Woodchurch High School in Wirral.
He was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a female child under 16 and one count of attempting to cause a female child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.
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Chipchase was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. He was also sentenced to 27 months in prison but served half of that time and has now been released from jail, a teacher misconduct panel was told on February 14.
Chipchase was a teacher employed at the school from 1997. A year later concerns were then raised about his relationship with female pupils.
Chipchase was then provided with a mentor and received pre-disciplinary counselling. There was an investigation completed by the school and Chipchase was dismissed.
The misconduct hearing panel found Chipchase "fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession" and “there is no evidence that Mr Chipchase has shown insight or remorse into his actions.”
The government approved a prohibition order which prevents Chipchase from becoming a teacher for life. This can be reviewed in some cases but given the "seriousness of the findings involving risk of harm to a child and the lack of remorse," this was not allowed.
Sarah Buxcey on behalf of the Department of Education said: "In my judgement, the lack of insight and remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils."
Chipchase was not present at the misconduct hearing and didn’t send a representative but the panel decided to continue the hearing.
In emails ahead of the hearing, Chipchase said: “I hope you are not expecting me to attend a hearing because I will not be there”, adding “I have not wanted to have anything to do with this process.”
Chipchase said he had “no intention” to become a teacher again, and had previously thought that was not possible.
According to evidence presented to the panel, Chipchase said: “The whole thing is a ridiculous waste of time”, accused them of wasting taxpayers' money, and told the panel “to just bar me from teaching and move on.”
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