Mr Robert Headley

Introduction

Mr Robert Headley is a former teacher at Rokeby School, a preparatory school in London, who was prohibited from teaching indefinitely in October 2023 after a professional conduct panel found he had created and publicly published videos and a book promoting an extremist “seed line of Satan” doctrine. The panel found the materials demonstrated a lack of tolerance and respect for the rights and beliefs of others and were contrary to Fundamental British Values, and the decision maker for the Secretary of State concluded that only a five-year review period would satisfy the public interest. Headley, who appeared before the panel without representation, denied that the material was racist or homophobic and said the case had been manufactured against him.

Background Information

Headley worked at Rokeby School in London. The Teaching Regulation Agency convened a panel at Cheylesmore House in Coventry from 12 to 20 October 2023 to consider allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. Unlike most prohibited teachers, Headley attended his hearing in person, though he was not represented. The allegations centred not on classroom conduct but on materials he created and made publicly available, including a book he later admitted giving to a colleague at the school before the investigation began. He told the panel that the allegations had been produced by the TRA, a witness and the school together, and that no one other than one witness had complained about his videos or the book.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Published extremist material, denied as racist. The panel found Headley created and made publicly available videos and a book promoting a “seed line of Satan” doctrine directed at other groups; he said he was being presented as racist and homophobic. No criminal case was involved.

The panel considered allegations that Headley created and published three works: a video titled ‘The DNA of Satan’, two videos titled ‘DNA of the Wicked’ and ‘DNA of the Wicked Part 2’, and a book expanding the same doctrine. The panel found the specific ‘The DNA of Satan’ video not proven, because no footage, transcript or screenshot was produced and the witness who described it was not called. The remaining materials were found proved. In them, Headley expressed and endorsed comments to the effect that humanity is divided between a “seed line of Satan” and a chosen people, telling viewers “don’t mix your seed”, and applying the doctrine to Jewish people, of whom he said scripture calls them “of your father, the Devil”, and to Christians, whose faith he described as a deception that “blinds the eyes”. He also declared that the Antichrist would come from the Islamic world and that love, temperance and mercy “cannot be produced by the seed of Satan”.

In his oral evidence Headley did not deny producing the material. He submitted instead that the TRA was not independent from the school and that he was “being presented as racist and homophobic”. The panel rejected that framing, finding that the published materials demonstrated a lack of tolerance and respect for the rights and beliefs of others and ran contrary to the Fundamental British Values expected of teachers. It noted that he had given a copy of the book to a work colleague, spreading the material inside his own workplace.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The panel found a strong public interest in the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils “particularly those with different beliefs”, and concluded that public confidence in the profession would be seriously weakened if such conduct went untreated. It considered whether publication of the findings alone would suffice and decided it would not, recommending a prohibition order with a five-year review period. On insight, the panel found that Headley showed little insight or remorse regarding the effect of his actions on those who viewed the material, and little insight into how the comments in the videos and the book could potentially harm pupils and the wider public. The decision maker, weighing the same considerations, judged that any lesser review period would be insufficient and that five years were required before he could seek to have the order set aside.

Current Status

The decision was made by Sarah Buxcey on behalf of the Secretary of State on 30 October 2023, following the panel’s determination of 19 October 2023. Mr Robert Headley 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 prohibition order to be set aside, but not until five years from the date of the order at the earliest, and an application is not an automatic right to have the order removed. The order took effect from the date it was served on him, and he had a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The ban ended Headley’s teaching career in England and, because the misconduct was public-facing rather than a private lapse, his published body of work now stands as the documented reason he can never return to a classroom. Unlike the many teachers banned with no review provision at all, Headley can apply from late 2028 to have the order set aside, but a panel would then re-examine the same findings, his published materials remain publicly accessible, and the panel’s conclusion that he showed little insight into the harm his doctrine could cause gives any future application an unpromising starting point.

Sources

• Teaching Regulation Agency, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Robert Headley” — source