Joshua Barraclough

Introduction

Joshua Barraclough is a former teacher at Minsthorpe Community College who was banned from teaching indefinitely in March 2023 after being convicted of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. A professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency found the conviction proved and concluded that it amounted to a conviction of a relevant offence, and the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State imposed a prohibition order with no provision for a review period. The offence predated his teaching career entirely: at the time it took place he was around 20 years old and working as a Scout leader, although he was not convicted until roughly ten years later, after he had become a science teacher.

Background Information

Barraclough was employed as a general classroom teacher and teacher of science at Minsthorpe Community College from 1 September 2019. His teaching career was cut short in January 2021, when the Local Authority Designated Officer contacted the college to inform it of an ongoing police investigation involving him. The college held a dismissal hearing and, on 14 May 2021, decided to dismiss him. He was subsequently charged with the offence of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and pleaded guilty.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Adjudicated, not alleged. Barraclough pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court and the conviction is a court record accepted as conclusive proof. The offence predates his teaching career — he was working as a Scout leader at the time — and the victim’s identifying details are redacted in the published decision.

The conduct underlying the case took place long before Barraclough became a teacher. The panel noted that he was 20 years of age at the time the incident took place and was not yet a teacher, although he was convicted and sentenced ten years later. The incident took place outside of the school environment and outside of school hours. At the time, Barraclough was a Scout Leader who met the victim, whose age is redacted in the published decision, at a location that is likewise redacted.

On 26 January 2022, Barraclough was convicted at Leeds Crown Court of the offence of “cause/incite a girl [REDACTED] to engage in sexual activity – offender 18 or over”. He had pleaded guilty, and the sentencing remarks expressly noted that he had been convicted upon a guilty plea. He was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. In addition, he was ordered to undertake a rehabilitation activity requirement for a maximum of 15 days, to undertake rehabilitation activity requirements as directed by an authorised provider of probation, and to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work before 7 March 2023. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.

At sentencing, the judge outlined a number of mitigating factors. The judge noted that Barraclough was clearly not fully mature at the time the incident took place, and was “quite confident that should the same thing happen now, Mr Barraclough would not have done it”. The judge also noted that “no grooming behaviour had taken place, given that it was the girl who had contacted Mr Barraclough and who was leading the sexualised conversation; Mr Barraclough also stopped the conversation”. The judge took his good character into account and assessed the risk of reoffending to be low. However, no mitigation was submitted to the panel, and it therefore could not take these factors into account.

The panel, which received a certificate of conviction from Leeds Crown Court, accepted the conviction as conclusive proof, finding no exceptional circumstances applied. It found the allegation proved and concluded that the facts amounted to a conviction of a relevant offence, noting that although the actions took place outside the education setting, they were relevant to teaching and working with children, and could have had an impact on the safety of pupils and the public.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The consequences for Barraclough’s employment came before the criminal case concluded. After the LADO alerted Minsthorpe Community College to the police investigation on 22 January 2021, the college held a dismissal hearing and dismissed him on 14 May 2021. The criminal proceedings then ran their course, ending in the guilty plea, the suspended prison sentence, the unpaid work and rehabilitation requirements, and placement on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. When the matter reached the Teaching Regulation Agency, Barraclough admitted the conviction and provided a signed statement of agreed facts; at his request the case was considered without a hearing, and the panel met privately by virtual meeting on 13 March 2023. It found the allegation proved and recommended a prohibition order with immediate effect.

Current Status

On 14 March 2023, Alan Meyrick, the decision maker acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, decided that a prohibition order was proportionate and in the public interest. The order contains no review period, meaning Barraclough is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. The panel had noted that Barraclough admitted in his statement of agreed facts that the offence “is recognised as being permanently incompatible with the teaching profession”. Meyrick also decided that Barraclough shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach, and the order takes effect from the date it is served on him. He has a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days of being given notice of the order.

Impact on Their Career/Life

Barraclough’s teaching career, which began at Minsthorpe Community College in September 2019, ended with his dismissal in May 2021 and was formally closed off by the indefinite prohibition order in March 2023, with no right to apply for restoration. Alongside the teaching ban, the conviction itself carries lasting consequences: a 10-year placement on the Sex Offenders Register, a suspended prison sentence, and requirements for unpaid work and rehabilitation activity. No public response from Barraclough is recorded in the published decision; the panel noted only that he provided no evidence of insight or remorse for it to consider, and that no mitigation was submitted on his behalf.

Sources

• TRA, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Joshua Barraclough” — source