9 February 2024
On 19 December 2023 ISTD member Richard Still appeared at Reading Crown Court where he was sentenced to 80 months’ imprisonment having pleaded guilty to four serious sexual offences contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
In accordance with the ISTD’s Standards policy and procedure, the ISTD’s Standards Board convened on 11 January 2024, and resolved to permanently remove Mr. Still’s name from the Register of Members, for gross breach of the ISTD’s Code of Professional Conduct and Membership Agreement. The ISTD had previously suspended Mr Still in March 2023 when it was first informed of his arrest.
The welfare of students is the primary concern of the ISTD, and our thoughts are with all affected by this incident.
At the ISTD, we support our members to adopt and follow all national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures, in line with the Department for Education’s non-statutory guidance for providers running out-of-school settings Keeping Children Safe during Community Activities, After-School Clubs and Tuition. We do this by providing advice, resources and guidance in our ‘Raising Standards hub’ and by offering a range of free and paid for safeguarding training courses throughout the year.
Teachers, students and members of the public are encouraged to raise any safeguarding concerns by contacting: safeguarding@istd.org. All concerns raised are investigated, in liaison – where appropriate - with the Police Service and other relevant statutory authorities.
