A 52-year-old teacher has been struck off for life after being caught on video having sexual activity with a child after they drunk alcohol together. 

Beverley Jane Dunnage, who was Head of Year 8 as well as Boarding Housemistress for Upper Sixth at St George’s School, drank alcohol with a boy before later encouraging him to engage in sexual activity. 

Another person witnessed the incident and recorded a video as well as took photographs of the 52-year-old’s actions on May 31, 2024, which were later reported to Avon and Somerset Police. 

Ms Dunnage, who had taught at the £35,000-a-year Berkshire boarding school since 2023, was arrested and then sacked by the school on July 12, 2024. 

That same month, she was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 at Taunton Crown Court and was sentenced to 45 months behind bars. 

The Teaching Regulation Agency found the allegations raised against the teacher to be proved, and as such, Ms Dunnage was in breach of several teaching standards, including ‘having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being’.

Carlo Lygo, who chaired the hearing, noted that although ‘the offence occurred outside of a school setting’ her actions were ‘relevant to teaching, working with children and/or working in an education setting’.

‘Ms Dunnage had engaged in sexual activity with a [REDACTED]-year old boy,’ he said.

Beverley Jane Dunnage, 52 , was the Head of Year 8 as well as Boarding Housemistress for Upper Sixth at St George’s School in Ascot, Berkshire (pictured)

She has been banned for life after being caught on video having sexual activity with a child after they had drunk alcohol together

‘The panel took the view that this was a serious offence involving a child leading to a term of imprisonment.’

Emails noting Ms Dunnage’s previous ‘impeccable’ character were also taken into account, as well as the restrictions on her ability to provide evidence due to her imprisonment. 

The teacher’s evidence, read by the panel. also said she committed the offences following an argument, which had left her distraught and not thinking clearly. 

The 52-year-old had also been undergoing counselling, according to an email she sent to the presenting officer on August 11, 2025. 

She also admitted to the panel that she was convicted at Taunton Crown Court for two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Banning her for life, Stuart Blomfield, for the education secretary, underlined: ‘In light of the panel’s findings against Ms Dunnage, which involved engaging in sexual activity with a child [REDACTED], there was a strong public interest consideration in the protection of pupils and other members of the public. Her actions raised obvious and significant public and child protection concerns.

‘Ms Dunnage’s conduct found proven significantly outweighed any public interest in retaining her as a teacher.

‘The panel considered that the adverse public interest considerations above outweighed any interest in retaining Ms Dunnage in the profession, since her behaviour fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher, and she sought to exploit her position of trust.

‘There was evidence that Ms Dunnage’s actions were deliberate even though she had consumed alcohol at the time.’

The panel had also considered Ms Dunnage’s handwritten note and a letter in which she accepted that she would ‘never be able to teach again’.

Another factor in the ban was ‘the severity of Ms Dunnage’s conduct and the impact that this continued to have on the victim’.