A music teacher who drove a student in his car and spoke to others on Snapchat has been banned from teaching.

Stephen Olanipekun, who taught at Blackfen School for Girls in Sidcup, appeared before a teaching misconduct panel where he admitted to speaking to students late at night.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) launched an investigation into Mr Olanipekun’s behaviour after he allegedly engaged in the “unacceptable professional conduct”.

At a professional conduct panel hearing, he admitted to driving a pupil in his car on October 4, 2018, and touching their hair.

He drove the student despite being told not to transport pupils by car during safeguarding training.

He also admitted that in around September to November of that year, he sent text messages to another pupil that were inappropriate and sent late at night.

The messages included one with kisses and swear words were used.

He also shared personal information with the pupil and the messages were sent when he was suspended by the school whilst they investigated his conduct towards the first student.

He also admitted to speaking with students on Snapchat and he allowed two pupils to share an Uber with him.

He held hands with one student and put his arm around them – though denied putting his hand on their thigh and putting his arm back around them after it had been removed by another teacher.

“Mr Olanipekun repeatedly failed to recognise appropriate boundaries towards pupils...”

In October 2018, he received a Management Instruction Letter concerning his conduct towards pupils.

He also provided false and misleading information by stating that his employment at Blackfen School had ended in August 2017 when he had actually been employed there until August 2019.

Mr Olanipekun stated he had been applying for work outside of teaching as he assumed he would not be allowed to teach again and he was lacking all confidence in his abilities as a teacher.

When questioned by his representative, Mr Olanipekun said he felt “terrible” for having included false details on his CV.

It was clear to the panel that he’d put false and misleading information on his CV and this was an “elaborate deception”.

As he did not admit to all the allegations, the case proceeded as a disputed case.

On Wednesday, it was decided that a prohibition order was “proportionate and in the public interest.”

The panel said: “It was a key factor that Mr Olanipekun repeatedly failed to recognise appropriate boundaries towards pupils and that he did not adhere to continual warnings.

“...his dishonest conduct which involved lying to his employer was also an elaborate deception.”

“This showed a lack of professional judgment. In addition, his dishonest conduct which involved lying to his employer was also an elaborate deception, involving a friend providing a false reference for him.”

Mr Olanipekun is prohibited from teaching indefinitely. He can appeal this decision in July 2025 at the earliest.

The panel found that two years “would be a sufficient period of time during which Mr Olanipekun could further develop his insight and provide evidence of remediation to a panel that he would not repeat similar behaviour towards pupils or in his job applications.”

The report went on to say: “The evidence of Mr Olanipekun's abilities as a teacher persuaded the panel that he will have a lot to offer the teaching profession.”

In a statement, the school said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students is our primary concern.

“The school is aware of the recent Teaching Regulation Agency hearing for Mr Olanipekun and the proven allegations in the report.

“Mr Olanipekun was employed as a teacher at Blackfen school from 2015 before being dismissed by the school in 2019 following safeguarding concerns.

“The school has worked diligently since 2019 to continue to embed safeguarding...”

“The concerns were dealt with under the school's safeguarding policies and procedures and all the necessary processes were followed.

“The school has worked diligently since 2019 to continue to embed safeguarding as of the most upmost importance in the work of the school.

“As outlined in the report, safeguarding training for all staff is arranged annually in addition to updates during the year. We have been in contact with parents and pupils following the hearing.”