'Inappropriate' text supply teacher suspended

A supply teacher who struck up an "inappropriate" text relationship with a male pupil at a Black Country school has been suspended from teaching for a year.

The General Teaching Council of England ruled that Keith Gardner, a former supply teacher at Redhill School in Junction Road, Stourbridge, was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

A conduct hearing in Birmingham yesterday was told he had exchanged a series of text messages of an "unacceptable" nature with the boy while working there between July 2007 and July 2008.

Among the texts was one which read: "Ope ur mom dnt kno what I am textin!!", which the council said it considered of particular concern as it showed that Gardner realised his behaviour was not appropriate.

Gardner admitted exchanging the messages, the hearing was told, but denied any wrongdoing, telling investigators he considered it an "innocent event" and was not prepared to accept blame.

In the official verdict, released after the private hearing, council chairman Christine Green said he had shown no insight or remorse, despite the school's headteacher Brian Heavisides also reaching the conclusion that Gardner's behaviour had been inappropriate.