A misconduct hearing of a long-serving Lancashire teacher accused of actions of a sexual nature towards a pupil has begun.

Simon Mumford was the head of physics at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School between September 2013 and July 2023.

A teacher misconduct hearing regarding Mumford, of Lancaster, began on Tuesday (September 3) with the panel chaired by Stephen Chappell.

Mr Chappell told the hearing it is alleged Mumford failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with a student in their final year at the school, named only as Pupil A.

Mumford, a teacher with more than 25 years of experience, allegedly organised an overnight camping trip, unauthorised by the school, to Priest’s Hole Cave in the Lake District, in June 2021.

It is also alleged Mumford had contact with Pupil A outside of school hours, either in person or on Microsoft Teams, and engaged in inappropriate physical contact with them.

It's alleged this included kissing them on the cheek, touching their leg, sleeping next to them, placing his arms around their shoulder, and leaning over them.

It is further alleged Mumford told Pupil A he loved them or used words to that effect, discussed their insecurities, and that the behaviour was of a sexual nature and/or sexually motivated.

Mumford admitted he organised and went on the overnight camping trip but denied this constituted a failure to maintain professional boundaries with Pupil A.

He also admitted to having out-of-hours contact with Pupil A.

He denied kissing Pupil A on the cheek/face, denied touching their leg, and said he slept at the opposite end of the row from them on the camping trip.

While he admitted placing his arms on or around their shoulder on the trip, he denied this was inappropriate physical contact and said it was to provide support and reassurance.

He also denied leaning over Pupil A, stating it was possible he may have leaned over them due to the confined space but it was not in a manner intended to make them uncomfortable or to get unnecessarily close to them.

He also denied telling Pupil A he loved them or using words to that effect, though said it was possible he may have reminded them of the fact they had family/friends who cared for them and loved them.

Mumford denied the behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct or bringing the profession into disrepute.

Heather Andersen, counsel for the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), described Pupil A as “extremely vulnerable” and said this was something Mumford was aware of.

Ms Andersen said Mumford was “very familiar with safeguarding” and “must therefore have been aware the trip overstepped the boundaries of a professional teacher.”

She added: “We say his behaviour fell well short of what is expected of a teacher.”

Lee Hughes, appearing for Mumford, said in relation to the contact outside of school hours, some of which was conducted through Microsoft Teams, that it would not be indifferent to knocking on a teacher’s door and speaking to them in person after school had finished.

The hearing continues.