The headmaster of one of the UK's most prestigious private schools has been forced out of office after a scandal over his handling of a teacher accused of secretly filming a pupil engaging in a sexual act. Rev Tim Hastie-Smith, who led Dean Close School in Cheltenham for 10 years, resigned with immediate effect amidst intense scrutiny.
Mr Clarkson, the classics teacher at the centre of the controversy, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and removed from the teaching register last week. In 2006, while he taught at Shrewsbury School, he lent his hotel room to a pupil who then filmed another pupil having sex with a girl.
Despite this serious incident, Hastie-Smith offered Clarkson a part-time position at Dean Close just five months later, sparking outrage among some parents. 'I have known Mr Clarkson for over a decade and I believe he has learned from his bad mistake,' Hastie-Smith wrote in a letter to parents. However, the decision has left many questioning whether Clarkson posed a danger to children.
The controversy is also believed to have led to the withdrawal of a headship that Hastie-Smith was due to take up next year at a state-funded academy sponsored by the United Learning Trust. A statement from the Trust indicated it was in 'the best interests of the school' for him not to take up the role.
Hastie-Smith's resignation as chair of the influential Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) – an organisation representing 250 top private schools across the UK – has been clarified as a necessity, given his departure from Dean Close. His sudden exit underscores the severity of the backlash he faced over his handling of the Clarkson affair.