A woman teacher who bombarded a boy pupil with sex texts has been banned – despite winning the backing of the student’s parents.
Victoria Ayris, 30, sent the year 11 pupil more than 2,000 explicit messages, including intimate selfies, over nine months.
And when caught by the head teacher she lied lied at first, saying she didn’t even have the teenager’s phone number.
But when the head warned her against making any further contact, she sent a text to the lad saying: “Delete my phone number and all messages including Whatsapp – don’t ask why just do it – your mum will want to see your phone when you get home.”
She was even quizzed by police, but no criminal charges have been brought.
Ms Ayris admitted at a professional conduct hearing that she had failed to maintain proper boundaries when she sent the inappropriate messages between February 2012 and November 2012.
Many were sent while he still was a pupil at Castlebrook High School in Bury, Lancashire.
She apologised for her actions and was supported by the pupil’s parents, who told the panel she had helped their son during a “difficult time” in his life.
But the hearing decided her actions and attempts to cover her tracks meant she should be barred from teaching indefinitely for bringing the profession into disrepute.
Described as an “outstanding, hard working teacher” Ms Ayris had worked at the school for five years. She has since moved to Australia.
Decision maker, Paul Heathcote, said: “The panel noted the evidence that the interactions between Ms Ayris and Pupil A had apparently become the subject of rumour and gossip amongst other pupils and staff at the school.
“The panel therefore finds that Ms Ayris’ actions constitute conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.”
A spokesman for Castlebrook School said Ms Ayris was suspended and resigned in April 2013.
He added: “Safeguarding of pupils in all our schools remains paramount, and all of our schools have robust safeguarding procedures, which in this case resulted in a referral to the teachers’ regulatory body and dealt with appropriately.”
