Walsall teacher banned from classrooms for life over sexual message to pupil

Ian Jones admitted 'unacceptable professional conduct' following a string of allegations while working at Grace Academy in Darlaston.

The 40-year-old accepted he sent a pupil a message on Facebook saying 'I wanted to f*** you silly' to a professional conduct panel.

He also admitted posting messages on social media to her using the terms 'tosser' and 'big bum'. He accepted his actions were 'inappropriate', but denied they were 'sexually motivated'. However, the panel found his conduct was 'sexually motivated'.

Bosses at the academy said he had worked there for five years between 2009 and 2014, without incident, and was assistant principal within the academy leadership team.

Following a professional conduct panel by the National College of Teaching Leadership where Mr Jones admitted a number of the allegations against him, it was recommended he be banned from the classroom for eight years. But the recommendation was over-ruled by Alan Meyrick, deputy director of the NCTL, who imposed a life-time ban.

Mr Meyrick said: "Mr Jones is guilty of a serious departure from the personal and professional elements of the teachers' standards, abuse of his position of trust and a violation of the rights of pupils. In addition his actions were sexually motivated."

The ban was imposed on behalf of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.

The findings of the panel, which heard the case in Coventry, said Mr Jones also talked to the girl about his marital difficulties and his sex life.

The professional conduct panel had recommended an eight year ban due to his 'unblemished record' before the incident and his mental state at the time.

Carl Salt, principal of Grace Academy Darlaston, said the school had an excellent reputation for the safeguarding of students. He added: "In the case of Ian Jones, we took immediate action to safeguard our students by removing him from teaching and conducting our own comprehensive inquiry by the trust. As required, we also notified the Disclosure and Barring Service and worked with external bodies including the NCTL and the local authority designated officer."

Mr Jones has the right to appeal.