Richard Lewis

Introduction

Richard Lewis was the Principal of Peak Academy in Dursley, a specialist school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, where he had led since May 2014. On 21 October 2019 two vulnerable pupils fought while he and another teacher stood and watched, and he later gave that teacher a reference without disclosing the teacher’s ongoing criminal investigation. A Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel found four of the five allegations proved in October 2026, and on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education he was prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

Background Information

In statements to the panel, Lewis described a “very active Royal Marine career and served with distinction before training as a teacher”, adding that “After a spell in mainstream, I dedicated my professional life to special schools”. He said he had transformed the school from special measures to “good” in just under a year, winning him ‘Principal of the Year for the White Horse Federation’. The panel noted no previous findings of misconduct over a lengthy career, and one character reference spoke well of him, though it was given limited weight as its author may not have known of the allegations.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

On 21 October 2019, during the lunch break, Pupil A and Pupil B got into a fight in the school’s basecamp, a purpose-built sensory room. CCTV without sound recorded Lewis entering the room with Pupil B, the boys pushing each other and then fighting while Lewis and Teacher C stood and watched, with no intervention until the latter stages of the roughly 20-second altercation; Lewis accepted some 23 seconds passed before he physically intervened.

The panel considered allegations in a Notice of Hearing dated 14 July 2026, all denied by Lewis. On the CCTV footage and the pupils’ police interviews, it found proved that he both allowed the fight and encouraged it by telling the pupils to “fight it out” or words to that effect — Pupil B told police Lewis had said “if you wanna have a fight have a fight then” before letting him into the room. It found he failed to take adequate steps to safeguard the pupils, the absence of injuries “appeared to be a matter of good fortune” given the force of the punches. It also found he pushed Pupil B one or more times, repeatedly pushing him back onto a sofa on the footage, but found no evidence he pushed Pupil A.

The final allegations concerned a reference Lewis completed for Teacher C, the other teacher present. The panel found proved that he failed to disclose in it that Teacher C was subject to an ongoing criminal investigation, answering “yes” to cause for concern but giving details only as “unfounded allegation”. The police investigation into the 2019 events was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in or around February 2021; Lewis received a first written warning, and the matter reached the TRA on 6 July 2021. The dishonesty allegation was found not proven: the panel, applying Ivey v Genting Casinos, accepted he genuinely believed disclosure might not be required, finding his conduct “more indicative of poor judgement, negligence or unprofessional conduct, rather than of dishonesty”. The proved facts amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, breaching the Teachers’ Standards and aggravated by the pupils’ vulnerabilities.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The case was decided at a public virtual hearing held from 28 September to 2 October 2026 before a panel chaired by lay panellist Mr Peter Ward, with Lewis present, giving evidence and represented by Mr Andrew Faux. The panel found a strong public interest in protecting pupils and upholding proper standards, considering ordinary members of the public would be shocked that an experienced senior teacher had allowed and encouraged pupils to fight. Balancing his previous good history, the one-off incident, the absence of injury, low risk of repetition and substantial procedural delay against serious safeguarding failures and limited insight, it recommended a prohibition order with immediate effect and a three-year review period.

Current Status

On 6 October 2026 the decision maker David Oatley, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, agreed that a prohibition order was proportionate and in the public interest. Lewis 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 until 12 October 2029, three years from the date of the order at the earliest; this is not an automatic right, and without a successful application he remains prohibited indefinitely. He has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days of notice of the order.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The October 2026 prohibition order ended a career dedicated to special education, including a headship held since 2014. The panel accepted the lengthy proceedings had had a substantial impact on Lewis personally and professionally, and credited him with some insight: he accepted he should have intervened earlier, saying “Any professional would reflect and consider in hindsight”, and that he should have sought HR advice over the reference. But it concluded his insight remained limited, focused more on himself than on the pupils, and the decision maker gave less weight to his contribution to the profession. Unless he successfully applies to set it aside after 12 October 2029, his removal from teaching is permanent.

Sources

• Department for Education, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Richard Lewis” — source