A teacher has been permanently banned from the classroom after admitting engaging in sexual activity with an apprentice while teaching in Harwich.

Stuart Alston, 31, is prohibited from teaching indefinitely following a professional conduct panel meeting in Coventry.

The hearing heard that while employed as a teacher at Harwich and Dovercourt High School in or around 2016, he engaged in sexual activity with an apprentice at the school and lied about when asked by staff members.

The hearing also heard that when he worked as a teacher at Sudbury Upper School, in or around 2011, he engaged in inappropriate behaviour with three pupils.

Allegations he had a romantic relationship with one pupil and kissed two others were found to be proven by the panel.

The panel further found proven that Alston provided inaccurate information on his application form when applying for the job at Harwich and Dovercourt High School.

He had also failed to declare, when applying for an Newly Qualified Teacher position at St Paul’s Academy in London in July 2012, that he had been the subject of a child protection concern.

The panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State reads: “In light of the panel’s findings against Mr Alston, which involved inappropriate relationships with pupils, former pupils and other young people with whom he held a position of trust, there is a strong public interest consideration in respect of the protection of pupils given the serious findings of inappropriate relationships.

“The panel’s findings against Mr Alston also included allegations of serious dishonesty and there is a further public interest consideration in ensuring this behaviour is not condoned.

“Similarly, the panel considers that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mr Alston were not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession.”

Banning Alston from teaching indefinitely in ‘any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England’ decision maker Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State, also decided due to the seriousness of the allegations he should not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.