A teacher has been indefinitely banned from the profession for engaging in sexual relations with two students.

Gunsel Akyol taught economics and business studies from 1988 to 2016 at Waingels College, a coeducational comprehensive in Woodley, Berkshire.

A professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency heard that he was accused of having a personal and/or romantic relationship with Pupil A between approximately 1991 and 1993 whilst she was a student at the school, and that he engaged in sexual activity and/or intercourse with her while she was still a student and shortly after she had left school, at which point the two lived together.

He was further accused of the same activities with Pupil B between 1999 and 2002.

Mr Akyol admitted the allegations and that they amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. 

The relationships with both pupils happened while they were in the sixth form studying economics.

Teacher ‘concealed relationships with students’

In 2005, Pupil A reported her relationship with Mr Akyol, who was given a final written warning by the school.

He was suspended in 2016 after the relationship with Pupil B came to light.

The panel said in its report: “Mr Akyol instigated, developed and engaged in sexual relationships with two sixth-form pupils, which he knew breached the proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position.

“This is evidenced by the way he concealed those relationships and asked the pupils to conceal them.

“The panel is satisfied that the conduct of Mr Akyol amounts to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.”

It imposed a prohibition and said there were no mitigating factors to justify setting any specific period after which Mr Akyol could apply for reinstatement.

These sanctions were agreed by Department for Education decision-maker Dawn Dandy.