Ex-Bradford teacher Philip Baker breached standards

It was alleged the teacher then attempted to call her five times, though she did not pick up.

In an email explaining his actions, Mr Baker said he’d “already left the school” and believed the pupils were worried about not being able to give him his retirement present.

He said he had phoned the pupil to suggest they give the present to a third party and added: “It seemed easier to call rather than text as I could hardly read my screen.”

The panel found that while Mr Baker’s reasons for making contact with the pupils was “certainly initially” genuine, his actions breached professional standards.

It said it was an “isolated episode” in an otherwise “unblemished” career and took into account the fact he was in the process of retiring.

The panel further concluded his actions were “whilst highly inappropriate, not malicious”, adding: “This was not a malevolent course of conduct but an eroding of boundaries.”

Mr Baker did not attend the hearing, telling his representatives that he was “not bothered” by the findings because he would “never work in any capacity again”.

The panel took no further action against him, stating an order banning from teaching again was not in the public interest.

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