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Education & Family

Ban for Woodham Academy teacher who called pupil ‘thick but pretty’

A teacher was banned from her job for kissing one student and telling another she was “so fat it’s a good job you’re pretty”.

Paul Richardson, who worked at Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, allowed another student to sit on his shoulders during a training session.

A Teaching Regulation Agency hearing was told Mr Richardson did not deny the allegations.

The 29-year-old cannot ask for the 10-year order to be lifted.

The hearing was told he admitted to allowing a girl known as Student A to sit on his shoulders, telling her she had “nice see-through leggings” or similar words.

The teacher, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, also said to a girl named Student B, “You’re so fat, it’s a good job, you’re pretty,” or similar words, and carried a photo of her in his phone case , the panel heard.

The following year, while out for a walk, he held the hand of another girl, known as Student C, and kissed her on the lips.

He also gave her a house key, kissed and cuddled her when she got upset at his house, and sent WhatsApp messages saying he loved her.

After police were alerted following a complaint at the school, Mr Richardson, who had worked as a supervisor, told officers he had told Pupil C they could marry in the future.

During a police interview, he said, “There was never anything sexual, more like a friendship, like ‘I love you, let me help you’, that sort of thing.”

However, the panel found that his behavior was sexually motivated and that he had failed to maintain a professional student-teacher relationship

It said he showed no remorse and had little insight into the impact of his behavior.

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