A maths teacher who sent a birthday card to a 15-year-old girl at a private Catholic school has been given a black mark on his record for “inappropriate” behaviour.
Luke Stewart, 28, wrote in pink ink to the student and made inappropriate comments to her while teaching at the £12,000-a-year college.
A disciplinary panel ruled the maths master can carry on teaching – despite finding him guilty of unacceptable professional misconduct.
Stewart was investigated by senior staff at St John’s College in Cardiff after pupils complained of “favouritism” shown towards the 15-year-old.
A child protection officer warned him not to be alone with the teenager – but Stewart was later found to be giving her private tutoring.
The Education Workforce Council hearing in Cardiff heard Stewart sent the girl pink birthday cards and signed them off as “Stewey”.
He also wrote “inappropriate comments” on her exam papers in pink ink including: “You have been really cold with me for about one third of the year – fair?”
Stewart was also found to have engaged in “extensive text message conversations” with the teenager’s mother and also arranged to meet her outside school.
But panel chair Helene Mansfield said there was not enough evidence to prove Stewart had flirted, shown favouritism, or encroached the girl’s personal space.
Stewart, of Caerphilly, was given a Conditional Registration Order which will last until May this year.
The order allows him to keep his place on the teaching register and work in education.
Stewart left Roman Catholic college St John’s – rated in the top ten in Britain for A-level results last year – by mutual agreement in 2016.