British teacher struck off register over relationship with sex offender

Jessica Patullo, a teacher who worked in Essex schools in England, has been permanently removed from the UK teaching register. A disciplinary panel ruled that she deliberately concealed her relationship with a man convicted of child sexual abuse offences from school leadership.

Jessica Patullo, 29, a former teacher at Kelvedon Hatch Primary School in Essex, England, has lost her right to teach in the UK. A disciplinary panel has decided to permanently strike her from the UK teaching register.

The panel's decision was prompted by the fact that Patullo deliberately concealed her romantic relationship with a man criminally convicted of possessing indecent images of children from school leadership. Withholding such information constitutes serious professional misconduct, as teachers are required to ensure child safety and inform institutional leadership of any circumstances that could pose a risk to child protection.

Career ended abruptly

The panel considered that Patullo's employment in a child-facing institution while keeping her relationship secret represented a clear threat to compliance with child protection standards. Loss of professional qualification means she is prohibited from working as a teacher in the UK in future.

The case again highlights how important it is for education workers to meet rigorous requirements in ensuring child safety and not withhold information that may be vital to school leadership in fulfilling its duty of care obligations.