Joanna Broad-Reeder, aged 58, has been banned indefinitely from teaching following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a pupil under 18, raising serious concerns about her professional conduct.
Joanna Broad-Reeder, a 58-year-old former teacher, has been banned indefinitely from the teaching profession after allegations surfaced regarding her inappropriate relationship with a pupil under the age of 18. The teacher, who previously worked at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, first encountered the student while serving as a supply teacher at Crewe’s St Thomas More School in January 2022.
Documents presented at a recent professional conduct panel revealed that Ms Broad-Reeder maintained contact with the student even after she had transitioned to a new school in September 2022. Throughout this period, she admitted to arranging and attending multiple outings with the pupil, which included meals, trips to an art gallery, and visits to the cinema.
Communication between the two included several intimate messages, with Ms Broad-Reeder expressing sentiments that raised concerns about the nature of their relationship. She reportedly described the pupil as her “soul mate,” stating that those around her believed she was “in love” with him. In one notable WhatsApp exchange, she conveyed her feelings, saying, “Just this very moment, I realise what it is I feel for you. It is love – a love of who I used to be and who I longed for when I was young – which was you.”
The Teaching Regulation Agency’s report highlighted that Ms Broad-Reeder professed to be “in awe” of the pupil’s intellect and maturity, asserting that her feelings were not sexual. “She stated that when she first met Pupil A, she was astounded by his intellect, maturity and love of the arts,” the report indicated. However, the panel dismissed the notion that her sentiments could be excused based on a perceived intellectual connection, stating that they deemed her messages inappropriate in tone and content.
Following the investigation, Ms Broad-Reeder acknowledged that her actions constituted unacceptable professional conduct. In correspondence with her legal representatives, she expressed regret and acknowledged the negative impact of her behaviour on her professional standing. She stated, “I totally understand that I may have exceeded the parameters. I am only guilty of emotionally caring for and enjoying sharing the arts with the pupil.”
Despite her apologies, the panel noted that her expressions of remorse were framed in a way that focused more on her own circumstances rather than the implications of her actions on the pupil involved. Consequently, Ms Broad-Reeder was struck off the teaching register indefinitely, prohibiting her from teaching in any educational settings in England. She will not be eligible to apply for the prohibition order to be lifted before March 2029, at which point her case will be reviewed by a panel to determine if the order should be rescinded.
Photos surfaced of Ms Broad-Reeder, including images from her recent wedding day, suggesting a stark contrast between her personal life and the professional issues she faces.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67dc41620f38d929e57ee39a/TRATMPO_Broad-_Reeder_Joanna_conduct_panel_outcome.pdf – This document supports the claims regarding Ms Joanna Broad-Reeder’s inappropriate relationship with a pupil under 18, including details of outings and messages exchanged.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-misconduct-panel-outcome-ms-joanna-broad-reeder – This publication provides details about the misconduct hearing and the decision to ban Ms Broad-Reeder from teaching, supporting the indefinite prohibition order.
- https://www.stm.pdat.co.uk/ – This is the website of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Crewe, where Ms Broad-Reeder initially met the pupil. However, direct corroboration from this site is not available due to lack of specific information.
- https://www.st-margaretward.co.uk/ – This is the website of St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, where Ms Broad-Reeder worked after transitioning from another school. Again, specific corroboration might not be available.
- https://www.teachingregulationagency.gov.uk/ – The Teaching Regulation Agency is responsible for managing cases of professional misconduct among teachers in England, providing context to the proceedings against Ms Broad-Reeder.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This news site, though not specifically referenced for corroboration, may host articles about Ms Joanna Broad-Reeder’s case, though no specific link or article was provided.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events and a professional conduct panel, suggesting that the information is relatively current. However, without specific details on when the panel concluded, the exact timing of the events cannot be confirmed. Additionally, there is no indication that the story is recycled from older reports.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
There are no easily verifiable online sources for the direct quotes provided, such as Ms Broad-Reeder describing the pupil as her ‘soul mate.’ These quotes appear to be original to this incident and have not been widely reported previously.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable news publication known for reporting a wide range of news stories. However, without access to the Teaching Regulation Agency’s original report or more detailed confirmation from other trusted sources, there is some limitation in assessing the reliability of the specific details mentioned.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about professional misconduct leading to a ban from teaching are plausible given past instances where similar actions have resulted in severe disciplinary measures. The narrative’s context—invoking legal and professional consequences—aligns with typical outcomes in such cases.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The published narrative is current and lacks clear indications of being recycled. Quotes appear original, and while they cannot be verified through other sources, this suggests they may be genuine. The origin of the story from a reputable publication adds to the reliability. Overall, the plausibility of the scenario aligns with common disciplinary actions in similar cases.
