Ban on Roseland Community College teacher after stroking pupil's leg

A teacher at a Cornish school, who stroked a female student's leg, sent an explicit text message to a pupil's mother and was found to have pornography on his work laptop, has been banned from the classroom.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has imposed a permanent teaching ban on Nigel Read, 53, following a Teaching Agency disciplinary panel finding that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct whilst employed at Roseland Community College, Tregony, Cornwall, between 2008 and 2010.

In their findings issued on Thursday, the panel, referring to the text, sent in 2009, said: "This was a communication between two adults but the content was inappropriate as the text related to a professional matter and should have been drafted on a professional level not a personal one."

It said that it was not able to conclude the stroking of the student's leg in November 2009 was a deliberate act, but that Read accepted it took place.

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As for the school laptop, it said that Read had allowed it to be used by his family and a friend. The panel added: "We have viewed within our papers screenshots showing inappropriate material of a pornographic nature."

Recommending a ban the panel said: "In our judgment the behaviour demonstrated is misconduct of a serious nature that falls significantly short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher.

"Mr Read has failed to observe proper boundaries in his relationship and communications with pupil B's mother. He has failed to have regard for the need to safeguard pupils' well-being as pupils could have viewed the inappropriate images and other content on his laptop. His text to pupil B's mother was seen by a pupil."

In his reasons for imposing the ban the Secretary of State said: "This case concerns a number of findings of deliberate misconduct. Mr Read's behaviour fell significantly short of that expected of a teacher not just once but over a series of incidents.

"I support the recommendation of the panel to impose a prohibition order."

He added: "Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Read shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."

The decision means that Read is banned indefinitely from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. He has a right of appeal to the High Court.