A report by The Times says that Eddie Adams, who teaches at England's Bilborough Sixth Form College in Nottingham, took trips to the home of the 18-year-old student on ten separate occasions as he allegedly assisted her with applying to various universities.
Staff at the college launched a probe into Adams after they took in an anonymous tip about the trips he was taking. The teacher was then kicked out of his position for gross misconduct.
This kicked off in 2020 after a colleague expressed their worry that he was “crossing professional boundaries” with the female student.
Adams responded by filing a lawsuit against his former employees, only to have a judge deny his motion. He had been at the school for at least several years, beginning his job there in 2014 before being appointed the ethics and philosophy course leader about four years later.
According to a tribunal held in Nottingham, the female student was under the care of the mother of her 18-year-old boyfriend at the time of the controversy and was estranged from her parents.
That mother reportedly formed “ground rules” with Adams pertaining to when he could pay the girl a visit as he “knew it would raise safeguarding issues.”
In the past, Adams had run into problems with the school over allegedly spending lunchtime with the same student and putting clips in her hair. He reportedly reacted to the warnings by saying his conduct was “commendable” as he is giving up his free time for the benefit of his former student.
Adams did, however, admit that his behavior warranted a change so he could make sure he “was not perceived to be socialising with students.”
Ultimately, he faced no disciplinary consequences for his actions that day.
A judgement from the tribunal stated that although it “clear” that Adams and the now-former female student had an intimate relationship, there is “no evidence it was inappropriate.”
That being said, his actions were still considered to constitute “gross misconduct,” thus making the judgement fair, according to the ruling.
Kirsty Ayre, the tribunal judge, explained that “it cannot be said that it was unreasonable of the [school] to view . . . a teacher spending the night at the house of a current student as a very serious matter which could put the reputation of the college at risk.”
According to Adams’ LinkedIn profile, he worked at Bilborough College for 7 years and 9 months, working as the Ethics & Philosophy Course Leader, ending in April of 2022.
Adams’ most recent employment is at the Heathercroft Training Academy, according to the account, where he has worked since March of 2023 as a Learner Support Coordinator.
