A teacher who engaged in sex acts with a pupil has been banned from the profession indefinitely.

Peter Smith, formerly a religious education teacher at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, faced allegations of misconduct relating to a student referred to as “Pupil A” by a Teaching Regulation Agency panel.

These included discussions with Pupil A about each other’s sexuality, hugging and kissing, and engaging in sexual activity including anal sex.

Some of the allegations related to when the two were on an official school trip to Tanzania. The relationship allegedly continued after Mr Smith moved to another school.

Panel members considered Mr Smith’s case in his absence. They said reasonable efforts had been made to contact him.

They were told that after Pupil A went to university, he confided in a counsellor about what had happened, who suggested he contact the police.

Teacher ‘showed no remorse’

Mr Smith was arrested, but acquitted of all criminal charges in February 2013.

The panel found allegations that related to the period when Pupil A was at school proven, but it dismissed further allegations concerning when he was at university. It found that these fell outside the rules concerning teacher-pupil relationships.

The panel stated: “Mr Smith’s proven conduct amounts to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct which may bring the profession into disrepute.”

The panel said Mr Smith had been “responsible for engaging in a sexual relationship with a vulnerable pupil over at least a two-year period and has expressed no remorse, nor accepted any culpability, for the effect his actions have had on Pupil A, his family and wider community”. 

It said it would be inappropriate to set any review period after which Mr Smith could re-apply to be a teacher, and an indefinite prohibition order has been agreed by the Department for Education.