Tarleton High drama teacher accused of 'groping' student

Jul 29 2010 By Gemma Jaleel

A DRAMA teacher is to appear in court accused of groping one of his students.

Ian Bagley has been charged with abusing a position of trust and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at the school, near Southport, where he worked as head of drama.

The offence is alleged to have taken place between May 1 and December 31, 2009.

The 48-year-old has been suspended by his employers at West Lancashire secondary Tarleton High school.

And today police confirmed Mr Bagley will appear before Ormskirk magistrates on August 10 after detectives charged him with groping the student.

Mr Bagley is alleged to have run his hands up and down the leg of the teenager which the prosecution will argue amounts to "sexual touching". The teacher who lives in Parbold, Wigan, was arrested on July 8 and Lancashire Police confirmed he has now been charged with the sexually touching the girl knowing her to be under 18 and "abusing a position of trust".

Anthony Hardiker, headteacher at Tarleton High School, said: "I can confirm that a teacher from this school has been suspended.

"I am unable to comment further as the matter is subject to legal proceedings."

As well as his drama role, Mr Bagley was among staff tasked with ensuring health and safety standards were maintained at the school which has around 800 pupils.

The school whose motto is "Realising your potential" and was judged "good" by Ofsted inspectors in January who said certain aspects including "care, guidance and support for students" were outstanding.

Drama is a big part of the school with its website stressing drama "has a strong tradition of extra-curricular provision" at the school.

All students are encouraged to audition for the annual school production which the website boast is of " extremely high" standard and "assessed by a National Theatre director".

And the school boasts how pupils have also successfully auditioned for the National Youth Theatre.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman confirmed Mr Bagley: "is accused of being an adult abusing a position of trust and sexually touching a girl of 15, knowing she was under 18."