Former Carey Grammar teacher Eleanor Yorke admits to sexual relationship with former student

A female Carey Grammar teacher, who was sacked in 2023, sent 35,000 messages to one of her students before having a sexual relationship with them.

A female Carey Grammar teacher has admitted to conducting a sexual relationship with a former year 12 student.

A female Carey Grammar teacher, who was sacked in 2023, sent 35,000 messages to one of her students before having a sexual relationship with them.

The Herald Sun first revealed in 2023 that Eleanor Yorke, a chemistry and biology teacher at the elite co-ed school, was stood down over her interactions with a year 12 student.

New information emerged in a formal hearing conducted by the Victorian Institute of Teaching on Monday as discussions proceeded about appropriate disciplinary action.

In a statement, the VIT alleged Ms Yorke had frequent and familiar communication with a 17-year-old student while employed as a teacher.

“(She) contacted the student approximately 35,000 times via Microsoft Teams,” the statement said.

“It was also alleged that Ms Yorke then began a sexual relationship with the student after they had graduated and turned 18 and this relationship continued for a year.”

The VIT alleged Ms Yorke engaged in serious misconduct that compromised a professional relationship with a former student by having a sexualised relationship within two years of the student completing high school.

Ms Yorke admitted to compromising her professional standing with the relationship.

“The VIT also alleged that Ms Yorke engaged in serious misconduct in that she violated a professional relationship with a student by holding conversations of a personal nature without valid reason,” the VIT statement said.

“With these allegations considered, VIT further alleged that Miss Yorke was not fit to hold teacher registration and that her registration must be cancelled.”

Carey Grammar principal Jonathan Walter chose to terminate Ms Yorke’s employment in 2023 following an investigation and her registration as a teacher was suspended on an interim basis

A VIT panel deliberated on Monday over what action to take following the revelations.

It is expected that her registration will be cancelled for a period of years, after Ms Yorke conceded she engaged in serious misconduct and was not fit to teach.

The VIT and Ms Yorke agreed on a set of facts in the hearing, with the young teacher admitting to compromising her professional standing by holding a sexual relationship with a former student who had finished school less than two years prior

Ms Yorke also admitted to holding conversations with the former student of a personal nature and engaging in written communication.

Deliberations were understood to be centred on whether Ms Yorke’s registration should be subjected to an additional period of exclusion.

Ms Yorke was a popular young teacher at Carey Grammar, with one past student describing her as “sweet” and “well-liked”.

The VIT suspended Ms Yorke on June 15, 2023 and she continues to be suspended on an interim basis.

Mr Walter wrote to parents saying he “recently received a report regarding Ms Yorke’s compliance with the School’s expectations regarding professional boundaries. This report concerned her interactions with a Year 12 student some years ago”.

“Upon becoming aware of the concerns, the School immediately implemented its student protection framework; this includes Ms Yorke being stood down whilst the matter is investigated. I can also indicate the School’s understanding that whilst a mandatory report has been made to Victoria Police, the police are not pursuing an investigation at this time,” he wrote.

The hearing panel adjourned the matter to consider its decision, with decision and reasons to be given at a later date.

Originally published as Former Carey Grammar teacher Eleanor Yorke admits to sexual relationship with former student