Ban for Woodham Academy teacher who called pupil 'thick but pretty'

Paul Richardson was a cover supervisor employed to teach at Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe

A teacher has been banned from the profession for kissing a pupil and telling another she was "so thick it's a good job you're pretty".

Paul Richardson, who worked at Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, allowed another pupil to sit on his shoulders during a gym session.

A Teaching Regulation Agency hearing was told Mr Richardson did not dispute the allegations.

The 29-year-old cannot apply to have the order set aside for 10 years.

The hearing was told he admitted allowing one girl, known as Pupil A, to sit on his shoulders and told her she had "nice see-through leggings", or words to that effect.

The teacher, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, also told a girl known as Pupil B "you're so thick, it's a good job you're pretty", or similar words, and carried a photo of her in his phone case, the panel heard.

'Loved her'

The following year, he held the hand of another girl, known as Pupil C, during a walk and kissed her on the lips.

He also gave her a house key, kissed and cuddled her when she got upset at his home, and sent WhatsApp messages saying he loved her.

After police were alerted following a complaint to school, Mr Richardson, who had been working as a cover supervisor, told officers he had said to Pupil C they could get married in the future.

During a police interview, he said: "There was never a sexual thing, more of a friendship, like 'I love ya, let me help you', sort of thing."

But the panel found his behaviour was sexually motivated and he had failed to maintain a professional pupil-teacher relationship

It said he had shown no remorse and had little insight into the impact of his behaviour.