Shropshire teacher is banned over affair with pupil

Thomas Telford School was today criticised for not ending the relationship between Andrew Little and a sixth form girl.

The school "failed to follow up concerns" raised by pupils and staff.

Mr Little was today starting a five year classroom ban for the inappropriate "romantic relationship" with a pupil, 18.

The 28-year-old, who was a technology teacher at Thomas Telford, went on trips to Scotland and Egypt with the girl, who has not been identified.

A disciplinary panel heard that leaders at the school were made aware of rumours about the relationship.

But the National College for Teaching and Leadership professional conduct panel said it was "surprised" about the school's handling of the matter in "failing to follow up all initial concerns raised".

It said reports that the teacher and pupil were seen walking hand in hand was "not followed up with sufficient vigour".

Mr Little, who went on to teach at Bridgnorth Endowed School, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

The panel said that while employed at Thomas Telford in 2012, he "did not observe proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher's professional position" and engaged in a romantic relationship with the girl, identified only as Pupil A.

Mr Little had argued it was a case of "mutual attraction between two consenting adults". But the panel found that he had "shown a flagrant disregard for his safeguarding responsibilities as a teacher".

NCTL official Paul Heathcote said the panel considered that his behaviour was not predatory and amounted to "sexual misconduct rather than serious sexual misconduct".

Sir Kevin Satchwell, headmaster of Thomas Telford School, said: "The school is very surprised at this statement because at no time were there any concerns raised about the process during the hearing."

"Detailed investigations were carried out in what was a very complex case of "unacceptable professional conduct". The school was able to provide comprehensive information which was promptly referred to the appropriate authorities.

"Copious records provided by the school ably assisted the NCTL to reach its decision.

"Since August 2012 the school has been working in cooperation with NCTL regarding this case and the fact that it has taken until May 2014 to reach a decision is indicative of how complex the case has been."

The disciplinary panel had heard that Mr Little had believed two girls were "fighting over him".

Another pupil had reported him to a senior teacher for having a relationship with Pupil A.

The panel heard that when Little heard that rumours were circulating about his relationship with Pupil A, he "believed the rumours indicated that two female pupils were fighting over him".

The hearing finding said: "Mr Little knew he risked losing his job over the rumours but did not seek advice from senior colleagues as he hoped it would just fade away."

Little knew the girl's parents socially and the hearing heard that they went on a group trip to Scotland together and Pupil A then booked a last minute trip to the same resort in Egypt as Little was visiting.

They shared a room in Scotland when the girl had only recently left the sixth form in 2012. She was technically a registered pupil until the end of August that year.

Little admitted going on holiday with Pupil A to Scotland and sharing a room with her while she was still a registered pupil at Thomas Telford School.