A former assistant head teacher at Aylesford School - Sports College has been spared being struck off by a disciplinary panel after it found he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl.

The National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) found Kristian Lasslett guilty of giving the 16-year-old his mobile number but asking her to keep the fact secret, phoning her late at night and lying during an investigation by denying he had given her his number.

However, the panel, which heard the case in Coventry, cleared him of other allegations including that he was guilty of sexually motivated activity, exchanging flirtatious messages via Facebook, giving the girl the impression that if she left school he would enter into a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship and posing for photographs with her.

It ruled, though, that the matters proved did amount to “unacceptable professional conduct which could bring the teaching profession into disrepute”.

Drawing back from imposing a teaching ban, it said the finding of unacceptable professional conduct would serve as punishment enough for Mr Lasslett, who joined the Teapot Lane school as a PE teacher in 2010 and went on to become assistant head in 2012.

He was suspended after the allegations and was summarily dismissed in March last year.

The NCTL findings say that in the circumstances it did not consider it would be “proportionate or appropriate” to ban him from the classroom.

“Mr Lasslett is now more mature and his level of insight indicates he would never repeat similar behaviour,” they said.

“Accordingly, the panel is of the view that prohibition is not a proportionate and appropriate response.

"The nature and severity of Mr Lasslett’s behaviour is at the less serious end of the possible spectrum and there are numerous mitigating factors that were present in this case, including the fact that Mr Lasslett is a young teacher and still has a lot to offer the profession.”

Aylesford School head teacher Charlie Guthrie, above, said: “Following a school investigation into the professional conduct of Kristian Lasslett we referred the matter to the NCTL to fully consider.

“Although the police found no crime had been committed, we believed the matter should be considered by the NCTL.

“This was an historic offence which did not relate to a pupil who was in school at that time.
“Safeguarding students at the school is, and always will be, my prime concern.

“Teachers are given clear guidance relating to the professional expectations and as a result of the investigation Mr Lasslett was dismissed from the school in March 2015.

“We believe the appropriate action has been taken and welcome the findings of the panel.”