A TEACHER who ignored advice to be careful about his relationships with pupils has been struck off the teaching register.

The Fitness to Practise committee of the Education Workforce Council found Mathew Jones, who taught chemistry at Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin, guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct”.

After a two-day hearing in Ewloe chairman Steve Powell said that other sanctions such as suspension or a conditional registration were inadequate because the failings were so serious and Jones, who is no longer teaching, had shown little insight into the seriousness of his conduct.

Jones, who taught at the school from 2010 until January this year, will be able to apply for reinstatement on the register in two years’ time.

He was not present at the hearing but in a statement which was read out denied that any of the incidents referred to amounted to inappropriate professional conduct.

He admitted, however, that he had erred in allowing himself to be vulnerable positions in the company of female pupils.

The committee found all but two of the seven allegations against him proved and that all amounted to inappropriate professional conduct.

One boy, identified as Pupil X, told how he saw Jones with a  girl pupil from another school in a lacrosse storeroom late one night after a training session and that she appeared to be carrying out a sex act.

The allegation in that case was that he should not have been in that situation.

Jones admitted he should  not have been with a single pupil who, he said, had been helping him to store equipment.

The denied a second allegation that he had made a sexual reference about a female colleague at a games night for staff, but the  committee  did not accept his version of events.

The chairman said that although the incident occurred outside school premises he should have behaved in a more professional manner towards colleagues.

They also upheld a claim that he delivered a lesson on safe sex despite being told that another teacher had already given the same lesson.

Jones was founder and captain of the town’s lacrosse team and one of the allegations found not proven was that he had inappropriate touched a girl member of the team while demonstrating how to catch the ball.

Imposing the prohibition order, Mr Powell commented: “There is insufficient evidence that he had an insight into the serious nature of his conduct.”

Such conduct, he said, would not help safeguard public  confidence in the profession.

“The committee is also concerned,” he added “that there is a risk of repetition of this behaviour.”

Jones produced no professional references but a letter was read from an unnamed friend and part-time employer who described him as “a loyal, caring, professional man” and said the disciplinary action had had a significant impact on him.

“It would be a dreadful shame to prevent him teaching in future when he has so much to offer,” he wrote.