Maths master Luke Stewart, 28, (pictured) was ‘sexually motivated’ in his interactions with the 15-year-old girl, a hearing was told
A teacher tried to seduce a teenage girl at a private school by writing ‘you need me’ in pink ink on her maths exam paper, a disciplinary hearing was told.
Maths master Luke Stewart, 28, was ‘sexually motivated’ in his interactions with the 15-year-old girl.
The 28-year-old – a teacher at the £12,000-a-year school – sent her birthday cards and gave her private lessons.
He was investigated after pupils complained about ‘favouritism’ towards the teenage girl, known as Pupil A.
Mr Stewart had been giving the student private tutoring sessions at her home despite being discouraged by the school.
But the hearing was told four pupils at the independent St John’s College in St Mellons, Cardiff, complained about Mr Stewart ‘flirting’ with Pupil A.
Presenting officer Carys Williams said: ‘Four pupils approached a member of staff. They were concerned about alleged biased Mr Stewart was showing to Pupil A.’
The hearing in Cardiff heard how the school’s child protection officer Emma Jones spoke to Mr Stewart about the complaints – and warned him not to be alone with her.
But seven months later in June 2016, Mrs Jones was approached again by three more pupils about Mr Stewart’s behaviour.
An investigation was carried out and Mr Stewart was suspended from the 460-pupil school, which boasted the tenth-best A Level results in Britain in 2017.
PE teacher Mrs Jones said Mr Stewart gave Pupil A an exam paper covered in pink writing – with comments saying ‘you need me’.
She said Mr Stewart also gave the Year 10 pupil a ‘pink, child-like’ birthday card that was signed ‘From Stewey’.
The hearing was told four pupils at the independent St John’s College (shown) in St Mellons, Cardiff, complained about Mr Stewart ‘flirting’ with Pupil A
Speaking about the exam paper, Mrs Jones said: ‘It was apparent that the exam paper did not contain any of Pupil A’s work.
‘The comments said “you need me”, “Nobody cares”, “I’m worried about you” and “you’re suffering”.’
Mrs Jones said that the front of the paper also had ‘read when you get home. Don’t turn’ written on it.
Mrs Jones said: ‘The fact that it was written in pink was really alarming. The comments were like a cryptic message.’
Mrs Jones said she was first approached by pupils in November 2015.
She said: ‘They mentioned that he did not tell her off when she three a bottle of water across the classroom and instead he smiled.’
The pupils also raised concerns about ‘flirting’. Mr Stewart was warned that he should not be alone with pupils.
But the hearing was told he privately tutored ‘studious and conscientious’ Pupil A at home and made her cry when he suspected she had had sex with a boy at a party.
The 28-year-old (pictured) – a teacher at the £12,000-a-year school – sent the pupil birthday cards and gave her private lessons, a hearing was told
Mrs Jones said: ‘Luke Stewart went on to state that if it got out it would ruin Pupil A.’
Her mother then cancelled the private sessions only to receive an anonymous text.
Mrs Jones said: ‘She received an anonymous text that Pupil A had had sex at the party.’
The hearing was told Mr Stewart also met with Pupil A’s mother at a garden centre against school protocol.
He left the school by mutual agreement in December 2016 after a settlement was agreed.
Mr Stewart, of Caerphilly, South Wales, admits writing the comments, sending the birthday cards, texting the girl’s mother and meeting with her outside school.
But he denies displaying favouritism, flirting, encroaching on Pupil A’s personal space and making inappropriate comments.
He also denies that his actions were ‘sexually motivated’. The hearing in Cardiff continues.