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Teacher struck off register over sex with pupil, 16 | Teacher struck off register over sex with pupil, 16 |
(3 months later) | |
A woman who had sex with a 16-year-old school pupil has been struck off the teaching register by a disciplinary panel. | A woman who had sex with a 16-year-old school pupil has been struck off the teaching register by a disciplinary panel. |
Emma Louise Ager was teaching English at Rhymney comprehensive, in South Wales, when she began the relationship with the teenager. | Emma Louise Ager was teaching English at Rhymney comprehensive, in South Wales, when she began the relationship with the teenager. |
A hearing in Cardiff was told the pair would meet up almost daily to have sex in her car, with her telling him he would be "a legend" among his friends. | A hearing in Cardiff was told the pair would meet up almost daily to have sex in her car, with her telling him he would be "a legend" among his friends. |
Miss Ager, 34, denied the allegations, but a General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) panel found her guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. | Miss Ager, 34, denied the allegations, but a General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) panel found her guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. |
The panel chairman, Steve Powell, ruled that Ager would be subject to an "indefinite" prohibition order. | The panel chairman, Steve Powell, ruled that Ager would be subject to an "indefinite" prohibition order. |
"The gravity of her conduct was such that the registrant's readmittance would not be in the interests of pupils or parents. | "The gravity of her conduct was such that the registrant's readmittance would not be in the interests of pupils or parents. |
"The order is necessary to protect pupils and maintain confidence in the teaching profession," he said. | "The order is necessary to protect pupils and maintain confidence in the teaching profession," he said. |
The boy, referred to as Pupil A in the hearing, was studying for his GSCEs when Ager began driving him to secret sex sessions in a factory car park in 2008. | The boy, referred to as Pupil A in the hearing, was studying for his GSCEs when Ager began driving him to secret sex sessions in a factory car park in 2008. |
At that time the Irish-born teacher had been at the school for two years. | At that time the Irish-born teacher had been at the school for two years. |
Pupil A said the relationship had begun after a friend of his got hold of her mobile phone number. After a prank call to her number, Ager phoned back and the pair chatted. | Pupil A said the relationship had begun after a friend of his got hold of her mobile phone number. After a prank call to her number, Ager phoned back and the pair chatted. |
During an earlier hearing the boy, now 22, told the panel: "She put a bet on me not being able to keep up with her during sex." | During an earlier hearing the boy, now 22, told the panel: "She put a bet on me not being able to keep up with her during sex." |
He later claimed the teacher had "bombarded" him with phone calls and sexual text messages during their two-month relationship, in March 2008. The relationship ended after Pupil A got back with his ex-girlfriend. | He later claimed the teacher had "bombarded" him with phone calls and sexual text messages during their two-month relationship, in March 2008. The relationship ended after Pupil A got back with his ex-girlfriend. |
"It was common knowledge among pupils in the school but I don't know if the teachers knew," he had told the hearing. | "It was common knowledge among pupils in the school but I don't know if the teachers knew," he had told the hearing. |
The relationship eventually did come to light after the boy's mother overheard a phone call between the pair and also saw text messages on her son's phone. | The relationship eventually did come to light after the boy's mother overheard a phone call between the pair and also saw text messages on her son's phone. |
After a meeting with the school's then headteacher, Meredydd Davies James, Ager resigned on 20 March. | After a meeting with the school's then headteacher, Meredydd Davies James, Ager resigned on 20 March. |
James had denied knowing about the relationship between teacher and pupil. | James had denied knowing about the relationship between teacher and pupil. |
He stressed he had only heard gossip about alleged inappropriate behaviour, and believed there was no real substance to the claims. | He stressed he had only heard gossip about alleged inappropriate behaviour, and believed there was no real substance to the claims. |
However, the GTCW panel ruled that James had not followed the proper child protection procedures on three occasions and was therefore guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. | However, the GTCW panel ruled that James had not followed the proper child protection procedures on three occasions and was therefore guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. |
It came to that decision after hearing evidence the former school head had provided Ager with references for future teaching jobs, with one saying her relationship with students was good. | It came to that decision after hearing evidence the former school head had provided Ager with references for future teaching jobs, with one saying her relationship with students was good. |
James, 62, has since retired, though in theory he could have gone back into teaching. With this possibility in mind, the panel decided to make him the subject of a suspension order. | James, 62, has since retired, though in theory he could have gone back into teaching. With this possibility in mind, the panel decided to make him the subject of a suspension order. |
Powell said the lesser sanctions of a reprimand or conditional registration order were insufficient. | Powell said the lesser sanctions of a reprimand or conditional registration order were insufficient. |
"The conduct cannot be described as an isolated lapse," he added. | "The conduct cannot be described as an isolated lapse," he added. |
James's name will be removed from the teaching register for a period of three months. If he wants to reapply, he will have to pass a training programme. | James's name will be removed from the teaching register for a period of three months. If he wants to reapply, he will have to pass a training programme. |
Neither Ager nor James were present at the hearing, in the Parc Hotel, Cardiff. | Neither Ager nor James were present at the hearing, in the Parc Hotel, Cardiff. |
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