A teacher of science who was caught looking at female students on Instagram has been permanently barred from teaching. Jacob Woodland, aged 28, admitted to having sexual thoughts about the girls, three of whom were minors. Woodland disclosed his actions to the acting head of Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy in Lancaster and penned a confession acknowledging his misconduct.
In a statement dated August 2024, Woodland expressed deep remorse, admitting to inappropriate behavior and using publicly available Instagram posts of senior female students for personal gratification. He had been part of the school staff for five years before his suspension the following day and eventual resignation two months later. The Teaching Regulatory Authority panel highlighted that Woodland acknowledged the sexual nature and motivation behind his actions.
Woodland’s statement also revealed that the images he viewed were of clothed or partially unclothed nature, possibly including bikini-clad students. The panel concluded that his conduct was professionally unacceptable and could tarnish the reputation of the teaching profession.
Despite being well-liked by colleagues for his professionalism and supportive attitude, the panel raised concerns about Woodland’s lack of genuine remorse and understanding of the impact of his actions on students, particularly from a safeguarding perspective. They noted his apparent unawareness of the necessity to inform the parents of the pupils about his actions.
For a faster way to access news that matters to you, select Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.
