A female teacher jailed for having sex with a pupil has been banned from the classroom for life by watchdogs who ruled the public ‘would rightly be appalled’ by her behaviour.
Convicted paedophile, Kandice Barber, now 38, was jailed for six years and two months in 2021 after being convicted of grooming a 15-year-old and having sex with him in a field.
Teaching watchdogs have now revealed that she shamelessly texted the teenager during the fling: ‘You cannot make me blush while I am teaching now, poker face lol.’
Reacting to the ban, Barber protested her innocence and sent the misconduct panel a note, saying: ‘Despite the convictions I have always proclaimed my innocence [sic].’
The trial judge blasted the mum of three as ‘beyond despicable’ for seducing the boy with topless photos and explicit messages while teaching him at Princes Risborough School, Buckinghamshire.
She flirted with the teen sending messages during a school assembly.
The teacher had bombarded the 15-year-old with messages such as ‘Do you like boobs or bum?’ – and sent him a photo of herself on a bed surrounded by sex toys.
Her shocking behaviour came to light after a topless picture she had sent her victim was seen by so many people it ended up on the headteacher’s desk.
The supply teacher from Wendover, Buckinghamshire, even threatened her victim that she would ‘take him down’ if he told her bosses what had been going on.
Today she was banned from teaching for life after a damning report on her behaviour by watchdogs.
Susanne Staab, who chaired the Teaching Regulation Agency hearing, said: ‘In 2018, Ms Barber was 33 years old and working as a form tutor and cover supervisor at the School.
‘In 2019, police investigated an allegation that she had groomed a 15-year-old male pupil, had sex with him, and sent him sexual communications.
‘The sexual communications included a video of her engaging in sexual activity, and a message containing a sexual innuendo sent while they were both in school, during which Ms Barber referred to teaching him. Ms Barber was charged with three offences and pleaded not guilty.
‘Following a trial, she was convicted, and on 28 January 2021, she was sentenced to a total of six years and two months in prison, and made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
‘In sentencing her, the trial judge noted that she had made threats to the child in order to prevent him from disclosing what had happened, and had sought to manipulate him.
‘The child had become withdrawn and confined himself to his room as a result.
‘She communicated with him in an inappropriate and sexually suggestive manner during the school day, while in class, sending him a message saying “You cannot make me blush while I am teaching now, poker face lol”.
‘The panel had no doubt that the public would have perceived Ms Barber as her victim’s teacher and that her conduct towards him constituted a gross breach of trust and abuse of position.
‘Her grooming and sexual exploitation of him was followed by threats and manipulation, demonstrating a callous and selfish disregard for her pupil’s wellbeing. The public would rightly be appalled by her behaviour.
‘Ms Barber denied the allegation on the basis that she maintained her innocence of the offences for which she has been convicted, most recently saying in her response to the notice of proceedings: Despite the convictions I have always proclaimed my innocence. [sic]’
Banning her from the profession for life, Sarah Buxcey, the Education Secretary, underlined: ‘In my judgement, the lack of evidence of insight or remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils. I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.
‘The panel decided that the public interest considerations outweighed the interests of Ms Barber. Her conduct was so egregious and harmful as to be fundamentally incompatible with her being allowed to teach in future.’
