Teacher Prohibited from Teaching After Instructing Students to Use Fake Email Addresses
A West London educator has been barred from teaching indefinitely following a finding of unacceptable professional conduct for telling students to use fake email addresses to contact him outside of school. Mr Arfan Munir Rai, 47, was found guilty of actions that may bring the teaching profession into disrepute.
Indefinite Prohibition with Review Period
On behalf of the Secretary of State, it was determined that Mr Rai would be prohibited from teaching indefinitely in England. This decision aims to maintain public confidence in the profession and safeguard pupils, with a two-year review period allowing him to apply for reconsideration after that time, though removal of the order is not automatic.
He is banned from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children’s home across England.
Panel Findings on Professional Misconduct
A Professional Conduct Panel established that Mr Rai had offered external tuition to pupils without the school's knowledge by asking them to use alternative names or fake email addresses. The panel concluded he failed to act in a transparent and open manner, thereby breaching formal written instructions given to him by the school in November and December 2023.
They found that instructing pupils to hide this information from the school and to use false identities demonstrated a lack of integrity and was dishonest. The panel also confirmed he had offered private tuition to pupils without the school's awareness.
Employment and Disciplinary Timeline
Mr Rai was employed as a teacher of Philosophy and Sociology and served as an EPQ Coordinator at Kensington Park School from February 1, 2023. He was suspended on March 7, 2024, pending an internal investigation into the allegations.
Following a disciplinary hearing, his employment was terminated on June 17, 2024. The matter was subsequently referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) on July 17, 2024.
Additional Allegations and Context
It was also alleged that he made comments such as "I am very lucky to have met you; I hope you stay in London" and "See you there" to a pupil referred to as 'Pupil A'. However, the panel found that these comments did not breach professional boundaries.
They stated that, on the balance of probabilities, the remarks could have been made within the ordinary context of a teacher-pupil relationship and were likely directed at the class generally rather than specifically at Witness A.
This case highlights the strict professional standards expected in education and the serious consequences for violations that compromise transparency and integrity.
