A music teacher who struck up “inappropriate” friendships with his favourite pupils has been spared a ban from the profession.

Darren Hawken, former head of Year 11 at Plymouth College, a coeducational independent boarding school, sent private emails and text messages to a select group of pupils, in which he promised one boy “preferential treatment” and asked to meet up outside of school, a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found.

Mr Hawken admitted that he “failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and engaged in inappropriate relationships” with five pupils in or around 2017 and 2018.

The panel clarified that his actions were not alleged to be “sexually motivated” - rather, he struck up “inappropriate” friendships with the pupils concerned.

It heard that Mr Hawken emailed one pupil, using the school’s account, for a period of roughly four months - between May and September 2018.

During this time, he told the boy that he had “fast become my No 1”; offered him “special and personal privileges”; asked him to send “holiday snaps”; and said “I’m always here for you”.

On one occasion, he said: “I’ve only done this for a couple of students in the past who deserve a place on my pedestal of which is VERY hard to get on. I see so much of me in you when I was your age, we’ve really clicked from day 1 and I’m so very glad you came to PMC [Plymouth College].

“There really is a very different side to the banter and joking around you often see with me. I’ll always be there for anything you need whilst you’re at PMC, that’s a promise.”

Teacher ‘had list of favourites’

He also messaged the pupil about the death of his great-grandmother; told the boy not to refer to him as “Sir” as it “simply doesn’t feel right”; and said he was “generous” with his money - “always treating friends and donating to charity”.

He added: “Once you’ve left, you’ll firmly be under the remit of a close friend, I can guarantee that.”

The pair met up once at a Costa coffee shop in Plymouth in July 2018, after which Mr Hawken offered to buy the boy another coffee and a slice of cake.

Mr Hawken admitted that he “lent on” the pupil as “someone he had a rapport with”.

In September 2018, the music teacher said he sensed that the pupil “felt a little awkward and wasn’t his usual self”. He told the panel that he asked the boy to come to his office during a free period, and asked if he wanted to cease communication. The boy allegedly told Mr Hawken he was “OK with it”.

However, the panel found that Mr Hawken had “breached professional boundaries” by establishing a rapport with the pupil and viewing him as a friend.

Mr Hawken also admitted to striking up “inappropriate” friendships with three other pupils.

He referred to one of the pupils as “my golden boy” and “the apple of my eye”, and asked to meet up on two occasions.

In emails to the pupil, whom he referred to as “dear boy”, he wrote a series of political observations, including: “Did you see Diane Abbott’s complete balls up on Sky News? If you haven’t, then take a look, it was so bloody amateurish and village.”

In another message, he signed off: “Up the Tories as always, D.”

The panel heard that he called another boy a “top guy”, and told three pupils that “it’s a tradition of mine to write a few personal words to those on my select ‘favourites’ list to wish them well for the future”. 

The panel agreed that it was “extremely unwise” to refer to a pupil as a “favourite” and that in acting in this way, Mr Hawken crossed a professional boundary. However, it was not satisfied that, in so acting, Mr Hawken engaged in an inappropriate relationship.

It acknowleged that Mr Hawken had a previous good history, and considered several testimonials submitted on behalf of the music teacher, one of which said: “Darren has always had positive and respectful relationships with those in his care. He has always dealt professionally with parents and colleagues alike, especially in his role as head of year. He inspired many young musicians to fulfil their potential and follow their ambitions, culminating in many successful concerts and recitals at school.”

The panel also noted that Mr Hawken expressed “remorse and regret” about his actions, and considered that he had “developed insight into his failings”.

Considering all the allegations together, the panel concluded that Mr Hawken’s actions amounted to “unacceptable professional conduct”. However, it did not deem his behaviour serious enough to warrant a ban from the profession.

“Given the nature and severity of the behaviour were at the less serious end of the possible spectrum and involved no sexual motivation and, having considered the mitigating factors that were present, the panel determined that a recommendation for a prohibition order would not be appropriate in this case,” it said.

Its recommendation was upheld by Alan Meyrick, decision maker on behalf of the secretary of state for education.