Dale Millar-Evans

Introduction

Dale Millar-Evans was a teacher at Bells Farm Primary School in Birmingham with more than a decade of teaching experience. Between July and September 2023, he exchanged online messages of an inappropriate nature with two people who told him they were 13 years old and who were in fact undercover police officers. A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel found every allegation against him proved, including that the messages were of a sexual nature and sexually motivated. In July 2025, the decision maker acting on behalf of the Secretary of State prohibited him from teaching indefinitely, with no review period and no entitlement to apply for restoration.

Background Information

Millar-Evans joined Bells Farm Primary School as a teacher on 1 September 2022. He signed the school’s Staff Acceptable Use Agreement Form on 5 September 2022, which stated: “I will not engage in any on-line activity that may compromise my professional responsibilities”, and he had attended the school’s annual safeguarding training the previous year. The panel noted that he was a teacher with over a decade of experience who should reasonably have been aware of the obligations on teachers regarding online contact with children.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Allegations. The claims in this section are findings of a Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel, which reported substantiating them on the balance of probabilities. Millar-Evans admitted the allegations except for the claim that he asked to meet up with Child A and the claim that his conduct was of a sexual nature and/or sexually motivated, both of which he denied; because he did not attend the hearing, this remained a disputed case, and the panel found both denied particulars proved anyway.

Between 10 and 19 July 2023, Millar-Evans exchanged messages with Child A, an undercover officer who told him she was 13. In an exchange of ages, he wrote “M 33 Birmingham”, she replied “13 f London x”, and he responded “Sorry didn’t realise you were so young”, noting the next day that he was “a lot older”. The panel reviewed police screenshots showing that on 11 July 2023 he asked “Can I see live pic of you?” and “Snap a pic so I can see its you”, and that day also asked “So, do you talk to lots of older guys?” and “So do you have a bf your age?” On 17 July 2023 he messaged her “Okay babe”. He told her he “could get in lots of trouble” for speaking to her, sent emojis of a finger to the lips and a zipped mouth, and remarked that “everything deletes here” on the platform — from which the panel inferred he knew what he was doing was wrong.

He denied asking Child A to meet up, explaining that his 12 July 2023 message “Can I see you today?” referred to a picture. The panel rejected this: after asking “Off home now?” and “Any plans?”, and being told she was going home, he replied “Ah nice, sounds good” — which suggested he was asking to see her in person rather than a picture, particularly as he had explicitly asked for a picture twice before. Between 30 August and 4 September 2023, he exchanged similar messages with Child B, a second undercover officer who stated she was 13: he asked “Can send me the new look” and “Can I see?”, welcomed a video with “No that would be cool to see”, wrote “Horny/inexperienced boys aren’t a good mix haha”, and asked “Have you had any experience with boys?”, pressing “What have you done?” before replying “Least you have some experience then” when she answered “Kissed n fingered”. He also called the exchange a way to chat when “bored/fancy a flirt” and wrote “When you’re in the mood, hard to stop”.

Millar-Evans claimed he had asked for photos only to check he was not talking to a “bot”, that “babe” was not sexual, and that he had thought he was being asked for advice. The panel did not find these explanations plausible and found that the conduct at both allegations 1 and 3 was of a sexual nature and sexually motivated, noting that he had disclosed he was a teacher in the communications and that the offence of sexual communication with a child was relevant. After a notice of proceedings dated 31 March 2025, the panel convened for a virtual hearing on 9 to 10 July 2025; Millar-Evans was not present and was not represented. It found all allegations proved and concluded that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The school suspended Millar-Evans on 15 September 2023 after being informed that an allegation against him was being investigated by the police; the decision records no criminal charges or outcome. A LADO managing allegation strategy meeting followed on 9 November 2023, and the school opened an internal disciplinary investigation on 16 January 2024. He resigned on 7 March 2024, the school held its disciplinary hearing on 11 March 2024, and a referral was made to the TRA on 14 March 2024. In his Notice of Referral Form of 14 October 2024 he denied asking to meet up, while in his Notice of Hearing form of 22 April 2025 he admitted the remaining allegations.

The panel recommended a prohibition order with immediate effect and no review period, finding that his behaviour fundamentally breached the standards expected of a teacher and that he sought to exploit his position of trust. Although a witness described him as an “excellent teacher”, the panel concluded the public interest outweighed any case for retaining him, and that his remorse was directed mainly at the personal consequences of exposure rather than at the risk to children. On 17 July 2025, decision maker Sarah Buxcey, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, prohibited Millar-Evans from teaching indefinitely, decided the order should have no review period, and ruled that he shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Current Status

The prohibition order is in force, having taken effect from the date it was served on Millar-Evans following the 17 July 2025 decision. He is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. The 28-day appeal window following notice of the decision has long since passed.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The ban is a permanent bar from teaching in England with no route to restoration. In statements to the TRA, Millar-Evans said he had lost his job and career, his house, and relationships with friends and family, and described his conduct as “irresponsible, immoral and not the behaviour that is expected of anyone, let alone someone in a position of trust.” The panel could not be satisfied he was fully remorseful or had sufficient insight, particularly as he continued to deny the conduct was sexual in nature or sexually motivated.

Sources

• Teaching Regulation Agency, “Mr Dale Millar-Evans: Professional conduct panel hearing outcome” — panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State, published July 2025. source