Nicola Houghton was found to have carried out behaviour amounting to unacceptable professional conduct
Rowan Park School in Litherland. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A former Sefton assistant headteacher who offered planning time to colleagues in exchange for sexual favours has been found to have committed unacceptable professional conduct. After four days of evidence, a teacher regulation agency (TRA) panel has said Nicola Houghton’s behaviour while in post at Rowan High School in Litherland over a period of years amounted to conduct that may bring the teaching profession into disrepute.
Following a day’s deliberation, Beverley Williams, panel chair, set out how the former maths teacher had undertaken actions that were sexual in nature and had breached the standards expected by teachers. Panel members will now go on to consider what sanction will be considered for Miss Houghton, now an education consultant.
Jonathan Storey, advocating on behalf of the former school leader, said she had shown a “high level of insight” into her misconduct and had reflected “deeply” on what she had got wrong. Mr Storey added how Miss Houghton had a “huge amount” to offer education, particularly around providing for children with autism.
The final day of proceedings was told how in September 2015 Miss Houghton became a maths teacher at Rowan Park before transferring to become assistant headteacher at the annexe facility attached the school supporting young people with complex learning needs. This was known as Rowan High.
Miss Houghton was suspended on December 14, 2020, after allegations came to light, before a subsequent appeal in 2021. The hearing was told how she had accepted the allegation she had offered additional planning time in exchange for sexual favours, recognising these were inappropriate and unprofessional comments.
She also accepted responsibility for making comments about a male colleague’s genitals but neither admitted nor denied placing her hand on a member of staff’s thigh, despite evidence being heard throughout the hearing. In her appeal, Miss Houghton claimed staff had “colluded together” based on “a grain of truth” in a bid to oust her.
Ms Williams said there had been “copious” amounts of evidence this had happened and represented inappropriate physical contact. Charges around talking about a colleague’s sex life, pushing paper down another woman’s top and pressing a hot spoon into a colleague’s arm were all also admitted.
Addressing the panel before they broke to consider what sanction they would recommend to the Secretary of State for Education, Mr Storey said up until the incidents reported, Miss Houghton had been a “professional person.” The advocate said his client accepts she was wrong and “wants to turn her life around.”
She had shown “genuine repentance” and her remorse had been sincere, according to Mr Storey. Regarding the comments she made to colleagues, he said these were “by and large salacious without being abusive.”
Having found Miss Houghton guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, the panel will now consider what sanction it may recommend to the Secretary of State. This will be made public in the coming days.