Simon Schofield

Simon Schofield, a 59-year-old former teacher, was convicted in France in November 2023 of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13, an offence that led to a suspended prison sentence. Despite this conviction, Schofield continued to work as a supply teacher in schools in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, from March 2021 until he abruptly resigned in May 2024, citing a family emergency in France.

The case came to light in the UK after the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) was informed of Schofield's conviction in July 2024. Records from the Police National Computer revealed that the offence had been documented since France shares information with the UK regarding convicted British nationals. However, the conviction was not flagged during routine criminal record checks, allowing Schofield to teach at multiple schools in the area between his conviction and resignation. Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton, wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging an urgent investigation into how Schofield was able to continue working with children.

Yorkshire Education, Schofield's former employer, stated that all agency workers, including Schofield, underwent mandatory safeguarding checks and UK criminal record (DBS) checks every three months—more frequently than the standard annual requirement. A spokesperson emphasised: 'The safeguarding of children will always be our number one priority.'

A professional conduct panel hearing was held on 2 October 2024, which Schofield did not attend and was not represented at. The panel described the offence as 'extremely serious' by its nature, though limited details were available about the circumstances or the relationship between Schofield and the victim. They found 'no evidence of insight, remorse or remediation' on his part. In a decision on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, Marc Cavey concluded that Schofield's behaviour was 'incompatible with working as a teacher'. As a result, Schofield was prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot work in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children's home in England. He was given 28 days to appeal the decision.

This case highlights concerns over the effectiveness of international conviction sharing and DBS checks in preventing convicted sex offenders from accessing roles involving children. The TRA's hearing report, obtained from official records, underscores the gravity of allowing such an individual to remain in education unchecked for months post-conviction.