Fiona Simpson said she did not believe in ‘censoring the arts’ after concerns were raised about the explicit books she gave to a pupil
Ted Hennessey Press Association
14:30, 07 Nov 2026
A private school teacher who provided a vulnerable student with books featuring explicit images of sex, drugs and nudity defended herself by arguing that A-level pupils are “young adults”.
Fiona Simpson, who taught A-level photography at Burlington House School in Fulham, west London — a specialist institution catering for pupils with special educational needs charging £51,552 per year — insisted she did not believe in “censoring the arts ” after concerns were raised regarding the materials she had given to a student.
The books in question, Diary by Corinne Day and Emotions & Relations, contained imagery depicting drug use, oral sex, a naked man with an erect penis and a blood-splattered bedroom.
In her response to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) conduct panel, Ms Simpson stated: “As far as allowing students to access specific books, I absolutely do not believe in censoring the arts.
“These are not primary school children, they are young adults.”
She further argued: “They should definitely know about the history of photography and the key figures within it.”
Despite the panel branding her justification as “misguided”, Ms Simpson escaped a teaching ban.
While acknowledging that referencing such artists was not inherently unsuitable, the panel stressed that the issue “is about the apparent disregard for the needs of a vulnerable pupil”.
It further noted: “There was no evidence to suggest there was any material supervision, support or contextualisation provided in the directed research to these highly graphic images.
“It ought to have been readily apparent to Ms Simpson that providing this material in such an unstructured fashion to a vulnerable pupil came with significant risk to their wellbeing.
“There was no suggestion that Ms Simpson gave any consideration to this risk or explored how it might be best to approach such sensitive imagery with other professional colleagues.”
Ms Simpson, who started at the independent school in November 2022, was additionally found to have struck the pupil on the bottom using a book or magazine.
CCTV recordings captured her swinging the object towards the pupil as they walked in front of her, the panel noted.
She maintained the contact was accidental and represented a gesture prompting the pupil to return to lessons.
However, the panel determined the contact was “inappropriate” and “entirely unwarranted”.
She also escorted an unwell pupil to a café during school time, which the panel deemed a safeguarding breach.
Burlington House School terminated Ms Simpson’s employment during her probation period in March 2023 and reported her to the TRA that June.
Following a hearing in October 2026, the panel determined Ms Simpson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
Nevertheless, it recommended against prohibiting her from teaching, stating her misconduct fell at the “lower possible end of the spectrum”.
The panel noted there was no evidence Ms Simpson had gained understanding of her actions and cautioned there remained a risk of repetition. However, it determined that releasing its conclusions would make employers aware of the potential dangers and enable schools to implement suitable oversight measures.
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