Who is Liyarna Beamish? Teacher Banned After Classroom Affair with Gareth Collins

Liyarna Beamish, a 39-year-old married teacher, has been banned from the profession after her affair with a colleague was exposed. She was the deputy headteacher at Ribston Hall High School, a respected grammar school for girls in Gloucestershire.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found that Beamish and Gareth Collins, a 45-year-old art teacher, engaged in sexual activity on school grounds. The pair admitted the relationship lasted for two years, often meeting in classrooms and locked supply cupboards — sometimes during school hours.

Early Career of Liyarna Beamish

Liyarna Beamish joined Ribston Hall High School in 2016. She had built a reputation as a dedicated teacher and senior staff member. Colleagues respected her leadership role as deputy head, and she worked closely with teachers and pupils in academic development.

Her career, however, came to a sudden end when her relationship with Collins was revealed.

Affair With Gareth Collins

Collins, who had worked at Ribston Hall since 2015, taught art. According to evidence, Beamish and Collins exchanged explicit messages over encrypted apps. These conversations confirmed that their relationship was not only personal but also sexual in nature.

Beamish admitted that their encounters happened both during and after school hours. The TRA report confirmed that these acts took place on multiple occasions across “a couple of years.”

Findings of the Teaching Regulation Agency

In June 2025, the TRA concluded its investigation. The panel described their conduct as:

• “Unacceptable and irresponsible”

• “Undermining of the teaching profession”

• Showing “limited remorse”

The report stated that Beamish claimed Collins had emotionally manipulated her. However, the panel decided both teachers were willing participants.

Beamish argued she had taken “precautions” so pupils would not find out, but the TRA said the risk to children was very serious if they had discovered the pair.

Consequences and Ban

Both Beamish and Collins are now banned from teaching. They cannot reapply for reconsideration for at least two years.

The report stated Beamish’s actions “fell very far short of the standards of behaviour required of a teacher.” The same conclusion was reached about Collins.

Civil servant David Oatley signed off the decision, stressing the seriousness of having sex on school premises during hours when they were supposed to be teaching.

Public Reaction

The case shocked parents and raised concerns about professional boundaries within schools. Many criticized the teachers for abusing their positions of trust. The TRA highlighted that such actions damaged the reputation of Ribston Hall High and the wider teaching profession.