Mark Robinson (teacher)
Introduction
Mark Robinson (born 17 May 1987) is an English former schoolteacher, not Mark Robinson, the North Carolina politician who has a page on this site. He taught at The Challenge Academy, part of The Challenge Academy Trust in Warrington, from April 2024 until his dismissal in June 2025. In September 2026 a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found him guilty of having been convicted of a relevant offence — violent convictions against two women, including intentional strangulation — and, on behalf of the Secretary of State, he was prohibited from teaching indefinitely.
Background Information
Robinson commenced his role at The Challenge Academy (“the School”) on 15 April 2024 as a teacher and lead teacher of mathematics. The referral recorded no previous misconduct and no previous disciplinary order by the TRA. A colleague of around two years described him as an “extremely knowledgeable, patient, caring and supportive teacher, who consistently puts the needs of his students at the heart of everything he does” and a “reliable, dedicated and valued member of staff” — though there was no indication the referee knew of his convictions when she provided it.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Person A told police on 23 September 2024, the panel heard, that Robinson had assaulted her on 14 August 2023, smashing her candle jars, pushing her on top of broken glass and grabbing her by the ponytail. On 10 September 2024 an emergency call reported a male attacking a female and pushing her into a bush; Person A said Robinson, who had been drinking heavily, threw her phone out of an upstairs window and strangled her during an argument, leaving bruising and a scrape to her hand. Cheshire Police told the School of his arrest that day and he was suspended.
Following guilty pleas he was convicted at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 15 January 2025 of assault by beating, criminal damage to Person A’s £599 mobile phone and intentional strangulation from 10 September 2024, plus the August 2023 criminal damage and common assault. Sentenced on 12 February 2025 to six months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months, with an alcohol treatment requirement, up to 35 days of rehabilitation activities, 250 hours of unpaid work, £1,099 compensation and a restraining order protecting Person A until 11 February 2030.
Six weeks later, on 30 March 2025, a 06:40 emergency call recorded a male saying “I will kick you in the face”; Person B had swelling and bruising to her forehead and cheek and a bleeding cut to her head, and said Robinson had punched her twice to the head. Convicted at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 31 March 2025, again after a guilty plea, he was committed to prison for a total of 12 months, the offence falling within the operational period of his suspended sentence. The School dismissed him at a disciplinary hearing on 17 June 2025; the TRA’s notice of proceedings followed on 26 June 2026.
Public Reaction and Consequences
A panel of Mrs Jane Gotschel (teacher panellist, in the chair), Mr Paul Anderson and lay panellist Ms Cathryn Tillman convened by virtual hearing, held in public and recorded, on 17 September 2026. Robinson attended unrepresented, gave no oral evidence, and admitted all the allegations. The presenting officer, Mr Mark Millin of Kingsley Napley, called no witnesses.
Acting on certificates of conviction accepted as conclusive proof, the panel found every allegation proved. The 2024 and 2025 offences breached the Teachers’ Standards on upholding public trust and respect for the rights of others; the August 2023 offences could not be judged against them, there being no evidence he was then a teacher. It found the January and March 2025 convictions to be relevant offences — serious offences involving violence and alcohol, against more than one victim — while the suspended-sentence breach explained the imprisonment without amounting to a separate offence. It acknowledged his guilty pleas, cooperation and genuine regret, but was concerned he had not entirely appreciated the transferable risk of his violence, maintaining he would never have been a risk to students. It recommended a prohibition order with immediate effect and, given the violence, no review period.
Current Status
On 23 September 2026, decision maker Stuart Blomfield, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, concluded a prohibition order was proportionate and in the public interest. Judging Robinson’s insight to be “partial or developing insight”, he gave considerable weight to the resulting risk of repetition — but balancing this against that developing insight, he departed from the panel’s recommendation by allowing an eight-year review period. Robinson is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. He may apply for the order to be set aside, but not before 23 September 2034; this is not an automatic right. The order takes effect from service, with a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days; the outcome was published on 20 October 2026.
Impact on Their Career/Life
A mathematics teaching post that had barely begun ended with the June 2025 dismissal and the September 2026 ban. Alongside the 12-month custodial term, Robinson remains bound by a restraining order protecting Person A until February 2030. The panel could not be comfortable he would not reoffend, and the decision maker gave less weight to his contribution to the profession than to the risk he posed. Seeking to return after 23 September 2034, he must show that measures taken make the risk of repetition “negligible”.
Sources
- Department for Education, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Mark Robinson,” published October 2026 — source