A disgraced deputy head who groomed a pupil and had sexual liaisons with her in his office has finally been struck off after dodging justice for a decade when bosses at his school failed to alert watchdogs.
Philip Culling, 52, was director of music at Godolphin and Latymer School in west London – where former pupils include Nigella Lawson, Kate Beckinsale and Davina McCall – when he began an affair with the teenager.
Despite being married with three children and responsible for pupil safeguarding, Culling engaged in a series of sexual encounters with the student – including intimate liaisons in his office and a cupboard tryst that was interrupted by a dinner lady.
His fling with the 19-year-old was said at the time to have been an ‘open secret’ among staff at the elite private school, where yearly sixth-form fees now cost more than £30,000.
However, Culling was allowed to quietly resign in 2014 without facing a disciplinary hearing, thereby escaping any kind of sanction and enabling him to continue working in education.
He resurfaced in the classroom just two years later, landing a role at the exclusive Holland Park Pre-Prep and Nursery in 2016.
Philip Culling, 52, was director of music at Godolphin and Latymer School in west London – where former pupils include Nigella Lawson , Kate Beckinsale and Davina McCall – when he began an affair with teenager
Despite being married with three children and responsible for pupil safeguarding, Culling engaged in a series of sexual encounters with the student – including intimate liaisons in his office and a cupboard tryst that was interrupted by a dinner lady
His fling with the 19-year-old (above) was said at the time to have been an ‘open secret’ among staff at the elite private school, where yearly sixth-form fees now cost more than £30,000
It was not until June 2022 – eight years after his resignation – that a whistleblower came forward, triggering a formal investigation into the teacher’s past.
Now, more than a decade after the affair, Culling has finally been banned from the teaching profession for life.
In a damning ruling, the Teaching Regulation Agency said Culling had embarked on an ‘inappropriate sexual relationship with a vulnerable pupil’ and was ‘in pursuit of sexual gratification’.
Panel chair Jo Palmer-Tweed said: ‘Mr Culling was a child protection officer at the school, and as such had appropriate training in safeguarding.
‘Despite this, he took advantage of the position of trust he was in towards a vulnerable child for his own gratification.’
Culling had sexual encounters with the pupil in his office and a cupboard tryst when a member of catering staff unwittingly walked in and ‘had not been aware that they were there’.
The panel heard how the besotted pupil performed a sexual act on Culling after the school’s annual jazz night, where she had sung both solo and with the swing band.
The pair met secretly, kissed in parks, embraced in the school lift and had sex for the first time on the night of the school’s leavers’ reception in June 2013, the watchdog was told.
After the teenager left the private school in June 2013, Culling visited her home for sex while her mother was out.
The hearing was told: ‘Mr Culling came around, approximately once a week, and that they would talk and have sexual intercourse. She stated that she moved into a flat in late August 2013, and that a lot of sexual acts including touching and oral sex happened in very public areas.’
The hearing was told how Culling bought the pupil gifts, referred to her as ‘the LOML’ – love of my life – and signed a Valentine’s card addressed to ‘by far the most gorgeous and wonderful person in the entire world’.
It was not until June 2022 – eight years after his resignation – that a whistleblower came forward, triggering a formal investigation into the teacher’s past
The hearing was told how Culling bought the pupil gifts, referred to her as ‘the LOML’ – love of my life – and signed a Valentine’s card addressed to ‘by far the most gorgeous and wonderful person in the entire world’. Pictured together in 2014
In one message, he admitted: ‘I haven’t stopped TOY [thinking of you] for approximately two years.’
An earlier email referenced her being ’52 hours away from being a legal adult’.
Goldolphin school leaders did not contact police or teaching regulators because they believed the relationship had only commenced when the teenager left the school.
The pupil told the teaching misconduct hearing that Culling had ‘asked her to lie’ about the relationship in 2014 fearing he would lose ‘his job and livelihood’.
The panel heard: ‘She stated that Mr Culling told her what to say, to make it sound as if the relationship was as recent as it could be.’
The watchdog said: ‘The panel heard evidence of the long-term impact on [the pupil] including the shame she feels as a result of their relationship and of having been coerced to lie to protect him.
‘It has tainted her memories of her school experience, and she referred to having ‘struggled to see herself in a good light’.
‘Mr Culling’s conduct led to [the pupil] being exposed to, or influenced by, his behaviour in a harmful way.’
Culling, whose then wife Rebecca also worked at the school, denied having feelings for [the pupil] – known as Person B in the report – until she had left.
But the panel found: ‘There was a gradual progression from exchanging emails of a personal nature, establishing contact outside of school hours and via personal mobile phones, sharing their appreciation for music and humour, then a tentative exploration of Mr Culling’s feelings for Person B before physical contact was established in the form of hugs, kisses and ultimately sexual contact.’
The panel ruled Culling was motivated by a desire for ‘sexual gratification’.
In 2023, as disciplinary proceedings loomed, Culling contacted the pupil on Whatsapp in a bid to convince her not to aid the investigation. Pictured together in 2014
In 2023, as disciplinary proceedings loomed, Culling contacted the pupil on Whatsapp in a bid to convince her not to aid the investigation, telling her: ‘I’m hoping you’ll agree with me that it is best not to engage with it. You can’t be made to.’
Mail Online revealed in 2014 how Culling was head of music and spent many hours helping the pupil with her goal of a career in the industry.
In now-deleted videos posted on YouTube, the teenager is seen singing pop songs while Culling accompanies her on the piano.
In the caption to one video, she revealed she ‘wrote this song about loving someone who you shouldn’t and just wanting things to be simpler’.
In another, she sang: ‘I thought I had been in love, but that was until I met you.’
The TRA has now banned Culling from teaching indefinitely, with no review period. He was not present or represented at the hearing in Coventry, West Midlands.
The panel found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, ruled he had brought the profession into disrepute and had displayed no remorse.
It concluded: ‘Mr Culling sought to conceal the extent of his relationship with Person B during the School’s investigation and coerced Person B into lying for him.
‘This continued by Mr Culling seeking to coerce Person B into not giving evidence in these proceedings, with the objective of frustrating the process.’
Signing off on the ban on behalf of education secretary Bridget Phillipson, civil servant Marc Cavey concluded: ‘The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a teacher engaging in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable pupil as well as behaviour that was coercive, dishonest and lacked integrity.’
Godolphin and Latymer School, based in Hammersmith, has around 800 female pupils between the ages of 11 and 18.
Famous alumni include celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, Hollywood actress Kate Beckinsale, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and TV presenter Davina McCall.
Godolphin and Latymer spokesperson said: ‘The TRA’s report reveals a shocking and deeply disturbing pattern of past behaviour which we unequivocally condemn. We fully support the TRA’s decision to bar Philip Culling from working in the teaching profession ever again.
‘He left Godolphin and Latymer 11 years ago after a comprehensive governor-led investigation into his conduct. The Hammersmith and Fulham LADO was fully aware and supported the school’s actions at the time, and the police were also informed.
‘Information and evidence not previously available to the school have now come to light through the TRA process and we are reviewing this. Above all, we are devastated to learn that a former pupil suffered in this way.’
