Drama teacher struck off

Former Thatcham school teacher is banned from country's classrooms after "totally unacceptable" behaviour

A FORMER Thatcham teacher has been banned from ever teaching children again for “totally unacceptable” physical contact with pupils.

The behaviour of Peter Watt, who taught drama at Kennet School between 1995 and 2001 and who was a former pupil at the Stoney Lane school, was found to have left long-lasting emotional scars on affected pupils.

On Tuesday, his case was brought before the General Teaching Council's professional conduct committee, where it was found he had “abused his position of trust and responsibility” after he brought pornographic images into school, gave some pupils alcohol at his home after shows, hugged and kissed them and engaged them in intimate talks.

Mr Watt did not attend the hearing in London and was not represented.

The committee chairwoman, Carole Baines, said: “We consider this is a very serious case. It betrays behaviour on the part of Mr Watt that is fundamentally incompatible with his continuing to practise as a registered teacher and to have any sort of contact with young persons through his job.

“He appears to have manipulated his position as a teacher to influence students and engage in totally unacceptable physical and emotional contact with them... it is clear that a number were very disturbed by emotional and physical interaction with Mr Watt... statements made some years later from a number of his former students speak of the turmoil created.

“He made an undesirable and lasting impact on the students involved, many of whom were affected by his entirely inappropriate behaviour, even to the extent of questioning their own sexuality.”

Announcing that Mr Watt would be permanently struck off the teaching register, she added: “We have decided that we must impose a disciplinary order in this case at the highest end of the scale. To do otherwise would be an abrogation of our duty to the public.”

Following the hearing, Kennet School headteacher Paul Dick, who was in charge at the time Mr Watt worked there, said that an anonymous letter had been received on the day Mr Watt was due to leave the school and that the details were passed to the relevant authorities.

He added: “The allegations were old and the school investigated them.

“The main thrust of the allegations was to do with his work with young people in the community and at evenings and weekends.

“Because of the seriousness of the allegations, the school referred the matter to the appropriate authorities and has worked with them closely ever since.

“This includes the Department for Education in London, social services and the police.

“I applaud [the General Teaching Council's] decision since the safeguarding of young people, in all settings, is paramount.

He added that he was confident that such a situation would not recur at the school.

“We regularly employ external professionals to inspect our procedures to satisfy us that we are doing all that we can to keep our pupils safe in school and out of school," he said.

West Berkshire Council spokesman, Keith Ulyatt, said: “The local education authority was informed of the serious allegations at the time and took all appropriate action in helping with the police investigation.”

Mr Watt has 28 days to appeal.