Zoe Williams
Introduction
Zoe Williams was a teacher at Ellingham Church of England Aided Primary School in Ellingham, Chathill. In August 2023 she was convicted of six offences: three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, assault of a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of her body or a thing, sexual assault on a girl under 13 by touching, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.
She was sentenced to concurrent prison terms in November 2023 and required to register with the police on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. After a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel meeting, the Secretary of State prohibited her from teaching indefinitely, with no review period and no entitlement to apply for restoration. She is not the subject of any other Zoe or Williams page on this site.
Background Information
The decision records that Ms Williams was employed as a teacher at Ellingham Church of England Aided Primary School (“the School”) at the time of the conduct. In her Notice of Referral Form dated 28 October 2024 she admitted the allegations, and on 24 April 2025 she signed a statement of agreed facts admitting the facts of all six allegations and accepting that her conduct amounted to conviction of a relevant offence.
After a discrepancy between that statement and the original notice, an amended Notice of Meeting was issued; the panel noted that “there was not a material difference between the allegations”. The TRA agreed to her request that the allegations be considered without a hearing, and a panel chaired by lay panellist Mrs Beverley Montgomery convened by virtual meeting on 27 August 2025.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Conviction on six counts, imprisonment and the sex offenders register.
Ms Williams was arrested on 4 July 2023, and her mobile phone was examined. She was charged with three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child contrary to Section 1(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1978; assault of a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of her body/a thing contrary to Section 6 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003; assault of a girl under 13 by touching contrary to Section 7 of that Act; and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 – offender 18 or over contrary to Section 11(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. She was convicted on all counts on 2 August 2023 at Newcastle Crown Court, and the panel noted that she pleaded guilty to the offences.
On 20 November 2023 she was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment; 15 years imprisonment comprising 10 years custody with an extension period of 5 years; 56 months imprisonment; 20 months imprisonment; 12 months imprisonment; and 32 months imprisonment, all to be served concurrently. She was also required to register with the police on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. A certificate of conviction from Newcastle Crown Court dated 26 February 2025 was accepted as conclusive proof of the convictions, and the panel found allegations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 proven.
The panel found breaches of the Teachers’ Standards, including those on treating pupils with dignity and observing proper boundaries and on safeguarding pupils’ well-being. It concluded that Ms Williams’ actions were relevant to teaching, working with children and working in an education setting, as “Ms Williams had made indecent images of children, had sexually assaulted a child and had committed a sexual act in front of a child”. The decision does not state whether the children concerned were pupils at the School.
On safeguarding, the panel observed: “In light of the panel’s findings against Ms Williams, which involved making indecent photos of a child, penetration of a child, sexual assault of a child and a sexual act in the presence of a child, there was a strong public interest consideration in the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils and the protection of other members of the public.”
Public Reaction and Consequences
The decision records no press coverage; it is a regulatory record of the TRA proceedings. The panel noted that “there was no evidence of insight and/or remorse on the part of Ms Williams”, did not accept that the incident was out of character, and found no evidence that her actions were not deliberate. It considered that publication of the adverse findings alone would be insufficient, and it recommended to the Secretary of State that a prohibition order be imposed with immediate effect, without provisions for a review period.
The concrete consequences of the case were already severe: concurrent terms of imprisonment totalling 15 years, comprising 10 years custody with a 5-year extension period, and indefinite registration on the Sex Offenders Register.
Current Status
On 1 September 2025 the decision maker, Sarah Buxcey, decided on behalf of the Secretary of State that a prohibition order was proportionate and in the public interest. “This means that Ms Zoe Williams 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 decided “that the findings indicated a situation in which a review period would not be appropriate”, and the decision maker concluded that allowing for no review period was necessary to maintain public confidence in the profession.
In view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved, Ms Williams is not entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach, making the ban permanent. The order takes effect from the date on which it is served on her, and she has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days from the date she is given notice of the order.
Impact on Their Career/Life
The prohibition order ends Ms Williams’ teaching career in England for life, and there is no route back: no review period applies and she cannot apply for restoration. Combined with her imprisonment and indefinite sex offender registration, the findings bar her not only from school teaching but from work in any sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.