Correction: An earlier version of this story reported that Mr Stewart had written “You need me” in pink ink on one of the teenager’s school papers.
The person who gave this in evidence on the first day of the three-day hearing, Emma Jones, has now admitted it was incorrect and the words did not appear on the student’s paper. We apologise for any confusion caused.
A teacher was accused of “flirting” with a teenage pupil and writing “you need me” in pink ink on her exam paper, a teaching hearing has been told.
Luke Stewart, 28, was teaching maths at the private Catholic school, St John’s College, in Cardiff, when he was investigated.
The Education Workforce Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee was told how pupils at the £12,000-a-year school first complained about “favouritism” from Mr Stewart towards the 15-year-old girl in November 2015.
He had sent the girl, known as Pupil A, a birthday card and provided private tutoring sessions at her home, despite being discouraged by the school.
Presenting officer Carys Williams said: “Four pupils approached a member of staff. They were concerned about alleged biased Mr Stewart was showing to Pupil A.”
The ECW hearing was told the school’s child protection officer, Emma Jones, spoke to Mr Stewart about the complaints – and warned him not to be alone with her.
She said: “They mentioned that he did not tell her off when she threw a bottle of water across the classroom and instead he smiled.”
But in June 2016, Mrs Jones was approached again by three more pupils about his behaviour towards the girl.
An investigation was carried out and Mr Stewart was suspended from the 460-pupil school – which boasted the tenth best A Level results in the UK this summer.
The hearing was told Mr Stewart also gave Pupil A a “child-like” birthday card, with Mrs Jones commenting she had “never seen a teacher give a pupil birthday card.”
After Mrs Jones, also a PE teacher at the school, was approached by the concerned pupils, she warned Stewart he should not be alone with pupils.
But the hearing was told he privately tutored “studious and conscientious” Pupil A at home and made her cry when he suspected she had had sex with a boy at a party.
Mrs Jones said: “Luke Stewart went on to state that if it got out it would ruin Pupil A.”
The pupil’s mother then cancelled the private sessions only to receive an anonymous text.
Mrs Jones added: “She received an anonymous text that Pupil A had had sex at the party.”
The hearing was told Luke Stewart also met with Pupil A’s mother at a garden centre, which was against school protocol.
He left St John’s College by mutual agreement in December 2016 after a settlement was agreed.
Stewart admits writing the inappropriate comments, sending the birthday cards, texting the girl’s mother and meeting with her outside of school.
He denies displaying favouritism, flirting, encroaching on Pupil A’s personal space and making inappropriate comments.
He also denies that his actions were “sexually motivated”.
The hearing continues.
This article was amended to remove a claim that Mr Stewart had tried to “seduce” a pupil. Mr Stewart has denied his actions were sexually motivated.
I think that you need to do a full first page of an apology to Me Stewart and his family for the story that you printed without FACTS. ITV was made to take the report down its a shame that you didn’t follow suit. You caused threats to be made on his family as lowlife who through judgement quick to pass comments. Now do what’s right for Mr.Stewart .
Not only did he deny these claims but the hearing yesterday confirmed there was no evidence for them. Print the facts.