A TEACHER who had an inappropriate relationship with a teenage pupil for nearly two years has been banned from the profession for life.

Andrew Lee Channing, now 37, is alleged to have had sex with the girl, while employed as a science teacher at Greendown School, in Grange Park – now Lydiard Park Academy – between February 2002 and August 2003.

The girl was aged between 14 and 16 years old during the inappropriate relationship, which lasted between December 2001 and August 2003 The girl, now 26, who cannot be identified for legal reasons but still lives in Swindon, received counselling in 2010 and made the decision to go to the police because of the impact of the relationship on her wellbeing and also out of concern for his pupils.

Now a professional conduct panel, set up by the Government agency the National College For Teaching And Leadership, has found the teacher guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and behaviour which could bring the profession into disrepute.

A report released following the hearing, in Coventry, reveals how the affair began. While the girl – referred to only as pupil A – was in Year 9, she had undertaken project work at the school under the supervision of Mr Channing.

On one occasion he shared part of his lunch with her and following a parents’ evening, in October 2001, he gave her a lift home.

She entered into email correspondence with him, which continued for a period of time, initially using a pseudonym.

The report states: “Pupil A alleged she lost her virginity to Mr Channing on February 14, 2002, aged 14 and that there had been regular sexual contact thereafter.

Mr Channing presented evidence to suggest he and his parents had been building a shed in his garden on that date and her claim was false, but the panel said his evidence was unreliable.

In the hearing, both parties agreed that on a date unknown, Mr Channing collected the girl in his car from an MFI car park and took her to his home, where he had sex with her and took a photograph of her.

The former pupil alleges this took place in August 2003 when she had finished her GCSEs, but Mr Channing gave a number of dates, ranging from August 2003 to May or June 2004.

The pupil’s mother made contact with Mr Channing in July 2002 after having discovered that her daughter was in contact with him. He denied he was having a sexual relationship with her.

The panel found it credible that, once the mother became aware of the relationship, she decided not to contact the school or authorities, given that the girl had threatened to commit suicide if the school was told.

The report concluded: “By sustaining an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable pupil who was aged 14 at the time the alleged physical relationship started, Mr Channing showed no regard for the need to observe proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher's professional position, or to safeguard the well-being of pupils.”

Andrew Channing is prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

St John’s Marlborough Academy, which had him on its staff list for 2012/13, confirmed he no longer works there following the decision.

St John’s principal Dr Patrick Hazlewood said:“These allegations were dated between 2001 and 2004, years before Mr Channing joined St John’s in 2007 and while he was teaching at the school we had no reason to suspect anything.

“It was a complete shock when it all came out in 2010.

“He was suspended from the school but was given permission to continue teaching by the local authority while an investigation was carried out but he was monitored very closely by the school during this time.”

Wiltshire Police said Mr Channing, then of Royal Wootton Bassett, was arrested on suspicion of an adult abusing a position of trust, but released with no further action in October 2010. A spokeswoman it was taken to the CPS but she understood it did not meet the criteria or right level for a prosecution.

Vetting is much tighter now’

HEADTEACHER Clive Zimmerman wants to reassure parents about the school’s vetting procedures for teachers.

Mr Zimmerman, who joined the school as deputy head in 2002 and became headteacher in 2007, said the then headteacher, Steve O’Sullivan, was not aware of the allegations – they were made years later – and all the checks of staff that were obligatory at that time were carried out.

He said: “It’s a complete breach of trust. I can only read what’s in the case notes that I’ve seen but certainly the panel was convinced it was serious misconduct, and this was the right decision.

“He seemed a very ordinary colleague in many respects and I know from my predecessor that there was nothing ever brought to the attention of the headteacher on this matter.”

The school safeguard system nationwide was much more rigid following the Soham murders in 2002, he said, and added: “I can give parents assurances that we vet all applicants to the school extremely seriously. “They have to go through an enhanced CAB process and safeguarding is a topic that’s central during the selection process... anyone who’s concerned can report something.”