A teacher who worked at a prestigious boarding school with an annual fee of £46,000 has been prohibited from teaching following allegations of excessive and inappropriate communication with a teenage student outside of school hours. James Samson, aged 46 and a father of two, served as the head of geography and a form tutor at Luckley House School in Berkshire.
The accusations revolve around messages and emails that Samson allegedly sent to the female student after acquiring her phone number, including statements such as expressing regret for not being able to have her in his classroom, and indicating a preference for her company during revision sessions. These interactions occurred over a span of approximately one year, with communication taking place through WhatsApp, email, and text messages, even on holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which breached school regulations.
Following an internal investigation prompted by the student’s discomfort and concerns raised in June 2024, Samson was dismissed from his position about a month later. The inquiry revealed that the messages exchanged between Samson and the student exceeded 40 pages, with a witness characterizing the behavior as potentially indicative of grooming.
The disciplinary panel found that Samson had violated professional boundaries and engaged in highly inappropriate conduct that fell significantly below expected standards. According to the school policy, teachers are prohibited from sharing personal contact information with students and are advised to communicate only through official school channels, such as school email or telephone. The panel’s report concluded that Samson’s actions constituted serious misconduct and were inconsistent with the professional expectations of an educator.