Teacher blamed his Italian heritage for being tactile' with pupils

"James Coltella had instructed students at Tonbridge School to sing sections of the song Marvin Gaye' by Charlie Puth, with lyrics including king size to ourselves and it's a Karma Sutra show and tell. In a witness statement, one of the pupils said that Mr Coltella would walk up and down the line, searching for eye contact."

"A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel heard that Mr Coltella had also touched two pupils on their shoulders, knees and legs during one-to-one meetings. Pupil A recalled that the touching my knee would also happen when he would laugh and I also recall that the teacher would touch my knee like my grandmother would as he would have his hand on me and would rub his thumb to comfort me."

"The pupil also said that Mr Coltella asked for a hug several times, which led them to eventually avoid the teacher. A former English teacher at a public school in Kent who touched pupils' legs and instructed them to sing inappropriate song lyrics to him has blamed his Italian heritage on making him tactile, a panel heard."

James Coltella, a former English teacher at Tonbridge School in Kent, faced a Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel hearing regarding allegations of inappropriate behavior toward students. He instructed pupils to sing sections of Charlie Puth's 'Marvin Gaye' containing sexually suggestive lyrics. Coltella touched multiple students on their shoulders, knees, and legs during one-to-one meetings. Witness statements from pupils described him walking along lines seeking eye contact and repeatedly requesting hugs, which caused students to avoid him. In his defense, Coltella attributed his tactile behavior to his Italian heritage. The panel examined evidence of inappropriate physical contact and concerning instructional choices.

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