The Disciplinary Tribunal has found a teacher guilty of serious misconduct for an inappropriate relationship with a student.  That included exchanging emails and social media messages and visiting the student at her home when she made a sexual advance to him (which was rebuffed).

He should have realised the student had become infatuated with him and taken steps to prevent that.

The Tribunal held that he should have reported the student’s advances to his principal immediately and if he had done so the more serious contact from the student would not have occurred.

There was no complaint from the girl or her family and his principal and teaching colleagues supported him being given a second chance.  There was no suggestion that he would be a danger to other pupils.

The teacher was censured and ordered to undergo boundaries training and to advise any teaching employer of the disciplinary findings.  The teacher had been in effect suspended for six months as the Teachers Council would not renew his practicing certificate pending the outcome of the charges.