A teacher who engaged in sexual relationships with two students, resulting in a pregnancy with one of them, has been permanently barred from teaching. Rebecca Joynes, aged 31, began teaching at the victims’ school in 2018, instructing students aged 11 to 18, including boys known as Pupil A and Pupil B, in mathematics during their Year 11.
Legal action commenced in October 2021, revealing sexual encounters, including penetrative sex, between Joynes and Pupil A on October 15, 2021. Following this disclosure, Joynes was suspended from her teaching position and subjected to bail conditions by the authorities.
Despite the imposed bail terms, Joynes maintained contact with Pupil B, aged 15, throughout late 2021. Subsequently, in January 2022, there were two instances of sexual activity between Joynes and Pupil B. The illicit relationship continued regularly after Pupil B turned 16 in February 2022, involving penetrative sex until June 2022 when Pupil B left school. In March 2023, Joynes became pregnant with Pupil B’s child, and their relationship concluded in June 2023.
In July, Joynes was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison at Manchester Crown Court for six sexual offenses against the two boys. The Teaching Regulation Agency panel, headed by Philip Thompson, emphasized the severe and lasting detrimental effects of Joynes’ actions on the children’s safety and well-being.
Joynes was permanently banned from teaching by Marc Cavey, on behalf of the Education Secretary, citing the lack of remorse and insight displayed by Joynes, indicating a risk of reoffending and potential harm to future students. The decision to ban Joynes was influenced by the gravity of the sexual misconduct committed against children by Joynes as highlighted by the panel.