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| Teaching ban affirmed for world famous bassist after assault conviction | Teaching ban affirmed for world famous bassist after assault conviction |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| After legal battle former Royal Academy of Music tutor Duncan McTier, found guilty of pupil sex offences, barred indefinitely | |
| Helen Pidd North of England editor | |
| Thu 2 Nov 2017 18.41 GMT | |
| Last modified on Thu 2 Nov 2017 18.58 GMT | |
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| A music teacher convicted of indecently assaulting his students has been banned from teaching children following a long legal battle. Duncan McTier, a world renowned double bass soloist, was convicted at Liverpool crown court in 2014 for sexually assaulting two of his female pupils and attempting to grope another. | A music teacher convicted of indecently assaulting his students has been banned from teaching children following a long legal battle. Duncan McTier, a world renowned double bass soloist, was convicted at Liverpool crown court in 2014 for sexually assaulting two of his female pupils and attempting to grope another. |
| Following his conviction, McTier was banned from teaching after an intervention from Nicky Morgan, then education secretary. | Following his conviction, McTier was banned from teaching after an intervention from Nicky Morgan, then education secretary. |
| But in February this year he won an appeal against the ban; a high court judge said the prohibition order did not take into account the fact that all of his victims had been at least 17 years old. | But in February this year he won an appeal against the ban; a high court judge said the prohibition order did not take into account the fact that all of his victims had been at least 17 years old. |
| Mr Justice Kerr called the ban “more draconian than intended” as it prevented the musician from conducting masterclasses in an educational setting. He also said it would have “no practical effect” as McTier, 62, only taught privately in the UK and did not intend to teach at any institution in the future. | Mr Justice Kerr called the ban “more draconian than intended” as it prevented the musician from conducting masterclasses in an educational setting. He also said it would have “no practical effect” as McTier, 62, only taught privately in the UK and did not intend to teach at any institution in the future. |
| The high court ruling meant that the secretary of state for education, now Justine Greening, would have had to make a fresh decision. | The high court ruling meant that the secretary of state for education, now Justine Greening, would have had to make a fresh decision. |
| On Thursday the new decision was published, and it reaffirmed the teaching ban. A different reviewer from the National College of Teaching and Leadership agreed that the prohibition order was appropriate since McTier’s behaviour had been fundamentally incompatible with being a teacher. | On Thursday the new decision was published, and it reaffirmed the teaching ban. A different reviewer from the National College of Teaching and Leadership agreed that the prohibition order was appropriate since McTier’s behaviour had been fundamentally incompatible with being a teacher. |
| Sinead O’Sullivan, the reviewer acting on Greening’s behalf, ruled that: “Even taking into account the age of two of his victims, Mr McTier used his professional position to influence or exploit a person or persons. I recognise that Mr McTier is a world-renowned music teacher. I do not consider that his personal reputation should stand above the wider reputation of the teaching profession. The offences of which he was convicted have the potential to bring the reputation of the profession into serious disrepute.” | Sinead O’Sullivan, the reviewer acting on Greening’s behalf, ruled that: “Even taking into account the age of two of his victims, Mr McTier used his professional position to influence or exploit a person or persons. I recognise that Mr McTier is a world-renowned music teacher. I do not consider that his personal reputation should stand above the wider reputation of the teaching profession. The offences of which he was convicted have the potential to bring the reputation of the profession into serious disrepute.” |
| McTier, who taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, is now prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children’s home in England. In addition, he is not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. | McTier, who taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, is now prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children’s home in England. In addition, he is not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. |
| The double bassist had pleaded guilty to offences for which he was convicted in 2014, which had been committed against girls aged 17 to 23 between 1985 and 1994. At the time he received a three-month jail sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work. | The double bassist had pleaded guilty to offences for which he was convicted in 2014, which had been committed against girls aged 17 to 23 between 1985 and 1994. At the time he received a three-month jail sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work. |
| This week one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, welcomed the ban. She told the Guardian: “I’m relieved Duncan is not able to teach in the UK. I believe he continues to teach abroad though. While he is a phenomenal double bassist, his past behaviour, not just with us three but many other women, has ended careers and caused untold damage. | This week one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, welcomed the ban. She told the Guardian: “I’m relieved Duncan is not able to teach in the UK. I believe he continues to teach abroad though. While he is a phenomenal double bassist, his past behaviour, not just with us three but many other women, has ended careers and caused untold damage. |
| “Our whole field has to show that this kind of behaviour and abuse of power is completely unacceptable, to make it safer for this and future generations of students. Teachers have a huge impact on a student’s career and those who abuse that for their own needs will hopefully think twice, as it now is clear that it can have repercussions even decades later.” | “Our whole field has to show that this kind of behaviour and abuse of power is completely unacceptable, to make it safer for this and future generations of students. Teachers have a huge impact on a student’s career and those who abuse that for their own needs will hopefully think twice, as it now is clear that it can have repercussions even decades later.” |
| McTier has a right of appeal to the Queen’s bench division of the high court within 28 days of the order. | McTier has a right of appeal to the Queen’s bench division of the high court within 28 days of the order. |
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