A NORTHWICH teacher who kissed, cuddled and hugged a pupil more than 10 years his junior and allowed her to stay overnight at his home has been banned from the country’s classrooms.

Andrew David Watson, 30, had the “sexually motivated relationship” with the girl while he was teaching at County High School Leftwich between June and December in 2013.

He was a member of staff at the school from September 2012 until he was suspended in September 2014 and resigned in October 2014.

A teachers disciplinary panel was told that as well as kissing and cuddling the girl, Watson also allowed her to stay at his home overnight on one occasion – though they slept in separate rooms.

He sent her a private Twitter message on at least one occasion and gave her his mobile phone number.

The National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) panel, which heard the case in Coventry, found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct which could bring the teaching profession into disrepute.

The panel’s findings said Watson had admitted what he had done and the impact it could have on the profession.

They said Watson admitted meeting up with the girl – described as Student A – outside the school grounds on a few occasions during the summer of 2013 and that she had gone to his house on two or three of those occasions.

“Mr Watson admitted kissing Student A on the lips on one occasion while she was at his house,” the findings said.

They add that a police note of a conversation with Student A referred to her and Watson having ‘hugged and cuddled’.

Referring to the time the girl stayed at his home the findings said: “Mr Watson has admitted that on one occasion, in the late summer of 2013, Student A stayed over at Mr Watson’s house.

“Mr Watson allowed Student A to stay in his bed whilst he slept in a different room.”

Describing Watson’s conduct as ‘sexually motivated’ the findings said: “The panel concluded that a reasonable person would consider meeting up with Student A, hugging or cuddling her, kissing her on the lips on at least one occasion, and allowing Student A to stay overnight in his home, was sexually motivated behaviour.

“Furthermore, in light of all the evidence, which included Mr Watson’s admission, it was clear to the panel that the purpose of his behaviour was sexual.”

In written representations to the NCTL Watson said that at the time he was not sure he was doing anything wrong ‘from a professional conduct perspective’ but recognised now that his behaviour had been ‘a mistake’ and that he had shown an ‘error of judgment’.

The panel recommended he should be banned but should have the opportunity to apply to have the ban lifted after two years.

Imposing the ban on behalf of Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, NCTL official Paul Heathcote ruled that he should not be allowed to seek to have the ban lifted for at least five years.

He said the NCTL panel had found his behaviour was sexually motivated and had the potential to harm the girl concerned.

He said: “It was not a one-off incident and the behaviour continued over a period of some five months.

“In the circumstances I have decided that Mr Watson should be allowed to apply to have the order set aside, but not until a minimum period of five years has passed.”

If he does seek to have it lifted he will have to convince another panel that he is fit to return to teaching.

Watson has the right to appeal to the High Court against the ruling.

Julie Brandreth, headteacher at Leftwich, said that before Mr Watson commenced employment at all safeguarding checks were undertaken.

“The Academy is acknowledged to have an exemplary record in upholding the highest safeguarding standards and expects all its staff to share this commitment,” she said.

“Consequently, as soon as Mr Watson himself revealed behaviour towards one former student which would contravene expected teacher standards, he was suspended immediately and reported to the Local Children’s Safeguarding Board in accordance with strict Safeguarding procedures. Due process was applied. Mr Watson subsequently resigned.”