A HEAD of department at an Oxford school has been struck off for ‘calculated and motivated’ attempts to observe a child doing a ‘private act’.

Nicholas Lowson, 50, got the job as the head of Design, Technology and Engineering at The Cherwell School in September 2014.

But five years into the job, in January of 2019, the school bosses were contacted by the police and told that Lowson was the subject of an investigation. He was immediately suspended.

Months later, in October, the school received a court statement detailing Lowson’s convictions – he had been accused of historic voyeurism and attempted voyeurism, relating to incidents in 2006.

The incident took place outside of his work as a teacher but were related to a child, under 16 – a similar age to youngsters he taught in Oxford.

The school bosses commenced an investigation and Lowson resigned from his position.

In a document published this week by the Government’s Teaching Regulations Agency, Lowson was struck off indefinitely.

The panel deciding his fate, commented: “Although the panel acknowledged that Mr Lowson had not been convicted of viewing, taking, making, possessing, distributing, or publishing any indecent photograph, the panel noted that Mr Lowson was convicted of attempted to observe a person doing a private act. The panel noted that person was a child and found such behaviour to be relevant.”

The document also stated: “Although the conduct took place outside of the education setting, the panel noted that Mr Lowson worked with pupils of a similar age as the victim at the time of the offence.”

In regards to Lowson’s remorse, the panel said: “As regards evidence of insight, in his response to the notice of referral form, Mr Lowson stated that he had ‘completed [his] punishment a year ago’ and that he was trying to move on, The panel did not consider this to demonstrate that Mr Lowson had shown insight into his actions.”

In the final verdict, the decision maker said: “In my judgement, the lack of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future well-being of pupils.”

The panel recommended to the Secretary of State that a prohibition order should be imposed ‘with immediate effect’.

Alan Myrick, the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State, said: “Mr Nicholas Lowson is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

“Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Nicholas Lowson shall not be entitled to apply for the restoration of his eligibility to teach.”

Lowson can appeal to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days of his notice.  

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