A FORMER Winchester College music director has been banned from teaching over historical sexual behaviour despite being cleared in a trial.

Malcolm Archer, 70, was cleared of indecent assault and indecency with a child by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2019.

But he has now been banned from teaching indefinitely after a report by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) reviewed the allegations.

Mr Archer, previously director of chapel music at Winchester College, and formerly of Edgar Road, had been at the private school for ten years before leaving in November 2017.

The report said: “The panel finds that the conduct of Mr Archer fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.

“The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of serious misconduct in relation to an inappropriate sexual relationship with a pupil.

“This means that Mr Malcolm Archer is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Archer shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”

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The allegations took place between 1976 and 1978, while Mr Archer was employed as assistant director of music at Magdalen College School in Oxford.

The boy, referred in the report as 'Pupil A' was attending Widford Lodge Preparatory School, Chelmsford, at the time.

Two allegations were put before the panel. One was that Mr Archer engaged in inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour towards Pupil A. The second was that the behaviour was sexually motivated.

The report said: “When it came to bedtime, Pupil A's evidence was that he was expecting to go into [redacted] bedroom, which has been part of the pattern of sexual abuse, but on this occasion was told by [redacted] that 'he would be going to bed with Malcolm'.”

The panel found that the first allegation was proved in its entirety.

Regarding the second allegation, the report said: “The panel were satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mr Archer's intention in those actions were for sexual gratification, involving as they did masturbating Mr Archer to the point of ejaculation.

“Accordingly, the panel find allegation two proved in its entirety.”

The panel concluded that Mr Archer is banned from teaching indefinitely and that he will not be able to appeal.

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