In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Beverley Dunnage, 52, was struck off the teaching profession for life following a conviction for sexual activity with a child. On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) published its findings, confirming that the former head of Year 8 at St George’s Ascot would never be permitted to teach again. The court reported in December 2024 that Dunnage had “incited” a boy to engage in sexual activity in May of that year.
The investigation established that Dunnage admitted to two counts of sexual activity with a child at Taunton Crown Court in July 2024. Somerset Police reported that the offences occurred while she was employed at the private girls’ school in Ascot, Berkshire, although the school confirmed the crimes had no connection to its pupils. The prosecution reported that Dunnage was sentenced to 45 months in prison in December 2024, leading to her being sacked from her role in Ascot, Berkshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Dunnage claimed the offences were committed while she was “distraught and not thinking clearly” following an argument. Taunton Crown Court heard how her conduct ran counter to the core duty of care expected of a teacher. The prosecution reported that while Dunnage had previously maintained an “impeccable” character, the gravity of the sexual incitement outweighed any public interest in her returning to the classroom in Ascot, Berkshire.
The TRA panel noted that the deliberate nature of the sexual activity with a child made a restoration of her registration impossible. For her actions in Somerset and Berkshire, Dunnage was handed a 45-month custodial term. The judge noted that the breach of trust inherent in a senior educator engaging in such behaviour necessitated a significant period of incarceration and a permanent ban from working with children.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For her crimes in England, Beverley Dunnage was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 45 months in prison (Sentenced December 2024).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for ten years.
- Professional Ban: Struck off by the Teaching Regulation Agency for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Taunton Crown Court following guilty pleas.
- Origin: Ascot, Berkshire (Offences committed in Somerset).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Dunnage is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the police and the National Probation Service. Due to her history as a senior teacher engaging in sexual activity with a child in Somerset, her management is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Dunnage must comply with notification requirements regarding her identity and residence for the next decade. Authorities state that her history of exploiting a position of trust necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of her conduct. Any further sexual misconduct or attempt to gain employment with children in Ascot, Taunton, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a further custodial sentence.
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