A former PE teacher who asked a student questions of a sexual nature, hugged her and tried to meet up with her, has been banned from the classroom indefinitely. 

Samuel Hawley, 29, appeared before a Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel on February 12 and 13.

Mr Hawley was employed as a PE teacher at Saffron Waldon County High for two and a half years and resigned after an investigation into his conduct was launched.

The panel heard that Mr Hawley was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct including inappropriate physical contact with 'Pupil A' in the form of a hug, and asking her questions that were sexual in nature including if her boyfriend had been "her first" and/or if they have "done other stuff". 

It was also alleged that he frequently asked to meet up with the pupil on her own and offered to drive her home in his car. 

CCTV and text messages were used as evidence in the hearing. 

Allegations were also made that Mr Hawley had one-to-one contact with Pupil A despite advice from management that he should not do so, and that he did not notify the school of his contact with her despite being told to. 

The panel was 'particularly concerned' by the fact that a witness had found Mr Hawley in his classroom with the door and blinds closed with two female pupils outside of school hours, despite the fact that he had been warned on multiple occasions about conduct of this nature. 

The panel’s report also commented on the ‘absence of insight shown by Mr Hawley' as well as his 'overall lack of appreciation of the appropriate boundaries of a teacher’.

They deemed that his conduct amounted to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Hawley was banned from teaching indefinitely, and can apply for the order to be set aside from February 20, 2026, at the earliest.