A TEACHER who struck up a relationship with a pupil at the school where he taught has been banned from the profession for life.

David Archer, 60, worked at Fulford School from 2007 to 2014, as head of curriculum for social sciences.

The school warned him in 2010 about his out-of-school contact with a student but he had a relationship after the pupil had left the school, until at least 2013.

He was suspended from Fulford School in September 2013 then dismissed in March 2014.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership has now banned him from teaching.

They concluded that he had:

  • engaged in sexual activity with the girl
  • told her he loved her
  • sent her kisses in messages
  • given her a gift
  • gone with her to locations including the cinema
  • sent her inappropriate emails, including calling her "sweetie", telling her he loved her, having discussions of a sexual nature, discussing having sex with her, sending her romantic and sexual poems he had written

In July 2010 he told her: "I love you so much...I really hope we can be with each other soon xxx less than a year xxx".

He admitted that he took her in as a lodger at his home in 2012, entered into a relationship with her that year, and became engaged to her in 2013. He was accused of misconduct in failing to tell his employer those facts, but the NCTL did not find him guilty of that.

He had told the NCTL that he notified the school of his change of address when he bought a house near the girl's and did not tell them the other matters as he did not believe there was anything inappropriate taking place.

Jayne Millions, from the NCTL, said: "Both his sexual activity with and emotional unburdening on Pupil A were a serious departure from the personal and professional standards of conduct expected of a teacher."

York Press:

Mr Archer declined to attend the hearing, but had submitted written statements in advance.

The NCTL said he had breached teaching standards, and said he was "guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that is likely to bring the profession into disrepute".

Ms Millions said: "Mr Archer’s conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession", particularly in relation to:

  • the protection of pupils
  • the maintenance of public confidence in the profession
  • declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct

She said there was no eivdence that Mr Archer's actions were anything other than deliberate, and said: "In fact, the panel found Mr Archer’s actions to be calculated and motivated."

All Fulford School parents have this week been sent a letter signed by head teacher Lorna Savage, and by Eoin Rush, City of York Council's assistant director for children's specialist services.

It says the school and council launched an investigation in October 2010 into Mr Archer's conduct. He, the pupil and her parents said the contact was due to approved tuition.

In 2013, further concerns were raised with the school and council.

The letter says: "On receipt of this allegation, Mr Archer was immediately suspended from his post to facilitate a full investigation into the matter.

"At the conclusion of this investigation, which uncovered evidence of gross misconduct of a sexual nature, Mr Archer was dismissed. The matter was passed on to North Yorkshire Police and Mr Archer was referred to the national Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a review of his conduct. This referral has resulted in the hearing outcome detailed above.

"As no criminal charges were brought against Mr Archer we have been unable to share the above information with you until now when the hearing decision has entered the public domain. The outcome of the hearing is very important; it exposes the unacceptable behaviour shown by Mr Archer and restricts his potential contact with young people in the future.

"This decision by the NCTL reinforces the high professional standards required of all those who work in education and it sends a strong message about the importance of protecting children and young people from harm."

They said there was no evidence that any other youngster had been affected.