A former teacher at Friern Barnet School in north London has been banned from the profession following an investigation into inappropriate communications with a student. Rafiqul Islam, 34, was found to have sent messages expressing an "Edward Cullen type of love"—a reference to the fictional vampire character from the Twilight series—to a pupil identified only as Pupil A in 2022.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) tribunal concluded that Mr. Islam admitted to declaring his affection for the student in an Instagram message, stating, "I developed a crush on you. By the end of the school year I have fallen in love with you." While Mr. Islam denied that his actions were sexually motivated, the panel determined otherwise and found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

As a result of the tribunal’s findings, Mr. Islam has been banned indefinitely from teaching. The ruling underscores the seriousness with which the education sector treats the breach of professional boundaries between teachers and pupils, particularly when such conduct involves emotional manipulation or romantic overtures.