Teacher 'told pupil she looked older and kissed and cuddled her in his house'

A teacher is set to face a disciplinary hearing after he allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a teenage pupil, whom he kissed and cuddled in his own home.

The General Teaching Council has launched a full hearing into the unnamed teacher’s conduct, which spanned a five-week period between October 2023 and December 2023.

The allegations are said to have occurred while the teacher was employed at an unnamed school.

The teacher faces claims that he asked for the female pupil’s phone number and provided her his own, despite knowing she was 16 years old.

It is alleged that the teacher sent numerous flirtatious messages to the girl during this period.

He stated to the girl, ‘you definitely look older than you are. In a good way, though of course’, and sent a joke which said ‘Knock knock’, ‘who’s there?’, Baby owl’, ‘Baby owl who?’, ‘Baby owl see you later at my place’.

The teacher also asked the teenager to spend time with him on numerous occasions, including watching fireworks displays in his car, going for coffee, having dinner and offering the girl to ‘crash’ at his house.

The allegations also state that the teacher had unprofessional discussions with the girl about two of his colleagues and accessed an education database looking for information about the girl.

He is then alleged to have started a physical relationship with the pupil, hugging her goodbye after dropping her off, kissing the girl, snuggling her in his bed and cuddling on a sofa while watching a film.

The teacher is claimed to have repeatedly invited the girl to his house, and on one occasion, the girl is said to have helped him put up his Christmas tree.

The GTC hearing will also hear how the teacher lied to the deputy head teacher at his school that he was not in a physical relationship with the girl, when that was not the case.

The panel will also hear how the teacher’s actions were dishonest or lacking in integrity, and that some of the allegations against him were sexually motivated.

The virtual GTC hearing is set to be held between July 27 and 29.