Former teacher who touched colleagues and discussed sexual favours ‘breached standards expected’

Litherland: So, there’s this former assistant headteacher, Nicola Houghton, who got into some serious trouble. She was found to have acted inappropriately while working at Rowan Park School. The whole thing came to light after a four-day hearing where a panel looked into her behavior.

The panel concluded that her actions were not just unprofessional but could also damage the reputation of the teaching profession. They found that she had made sexual comments and even offered planning time to colleagues in exchange for sexual favors. Yikes!

During the hearing, her advocate claimed she had reflected deeply on her actions and had a lot to offer in education, especially for kids with autism. But the evidence against her was pretty overwhelming. She was suspended back in December 2020 after the allegations surfaced.

Houghton admitted to some of the inappropriate comments she made, but she didn’t fully own up to everything. There were claims of her making comments about a colleague’s genitals and even some physical contact that raised eyebrows.

The panel chair, Beverley Williams, pointed out that there was plenty of evidence showing her behavior was unacceptable. They’re now deciding what kind of punishment she might face, which will be announced soon. It’s a tough situation, and it’s clear she’s got a lot to think about moving forward.