It’s shocking how someone entrusted with the safety and well-being of young students can completely abuse that trust.
Philip Culling, once the respected director of music at the elite Godolphin and Latymer School in West London, has now been banned from teaching for life after a disturbing decade-long saga came to light.
The Dark Secret Behind the Music Department
Culling, 52, wasn’t just any teacher. He worked at a school known for producing stars like Nigella Lawson and Kate Beckinsale.
But behind the scenes, his conduct was far from admirable.
He began an inappropriate sexual relationship with a vulnerable sixth-form pupil, someone he was supposed to protect.
Despite being married with three children and holding a key safeguarding role, Culling engaged in multiple sexual encounters with the 19-year-old student.
These trysts took place in his office and even a cupboard—once interrupted by a staff member completely unaware of what was happening.
An Affair Kept Quiet for Far Too Long
What’s even more troubling is that this relationship was reportedly an “open secret” among staff members.
Yet, the school’s leadership chose not to report the matter to authorities or the teaching watchdog, believing the affair only started after the student left the school.
Instead, Culling quietly resigned in 2014 without facing any formal disciplinary action, allowing him to continue working as a teacher elsewhere just two years later.
He took a role at another exclusive school, Holland Park Pre-Prep and Nursery, in 2016.
A Whistleblower Finally Brings Justice
It wasn’t until June 2022, eight years after his resignation, that a whistleblower stepped forward.
This led to a formal investigation and ultimately to Culling being banned from teaching for life.
The Teaching Regulation Agency was clear: Culling had abused his position of trust and exploited a vulnerable young woman for his own sexual gratification.
The panel chair highlighted that he had been trained in safeguarding but chose to betray that responsibility.
A Relationship That Went Beyond the Classroom
The details shared during the hearing painted a troubling picture.
Their relationship began with secret meetings and kisses, including moments in the school lift and parks.
The first sexual encounter happened on the night of the school’s leavers’ reception in June 2013.
Even after the student left the school, Culling continued visiting her at home while her mother was out.
Their relationship included public acts of intimacy, gifts, and affectionate messages where he called her “the love of my life.”
The Impact on the Victim’s Life
The pupil revealed how Culling had pressured her to lie about the timeline of their relationship to protect his job.
The emotional toll on her was significant, leading to feelings of shame and a damaged view of her school experience.
The panel found that Culling’s actions caused real harm, exposing the student to coercion and manipulation over a prolonged period.
Denials, Lies, and Attempts to Conceal
Culling denied having feelings for the student while she was still at school, but evidence showed a clear progression from innocent emails to physical contact.
In 2023, as the investigation heated up, he even tried to convince her not to cooperate with the inquiry.
His behavior during the investigation further cemented his guilt—he showed no remorse and actively tried to obstruct justice by encouraging the victim to withhold information.
A Damning Verdict and Lifetime Ban
The Teaching Regulation Agency ruled that Culling’s conduct was unacceptable and brought the teaching profession into disrepute.
With no sign of remorse and a clear pattern of coercive and dishonest behavior, he was banned from teaching indefinitely with no chance for review.
A Prestigious School’s Tarnished Reputation
Godolphin and Latymer School, located in Hammersmith and home to around 800 girls aged 11 to 18, has a reputation for excellence.
Alumni include famous names from the worlds of food, film, music, and television.
Yet this scandal has cast a long shadow over its reputation, revealing serious failures in safeguarding and accountability.