A school teacher has been banned from the classroom for life after he started a sexual relationship with a former pupil he nicknamed his “wife”, a panel heard.

Science teacher Norman Dean, 50, got together with the youngster in the summer after she left Thamesview high school in Gravesend, Kent.

Yesterday, he was banned from classrooms for life after being found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and sexually motivated behaviour.

A disciplinary hearing was told the couple called each other “hubby” and “wife” and took semi-nude photos.

The Teacher Regulation Agency heard Dean had been given a safeguarding warning over his relationship with the girl - known as Pupil A - but ignored it.

Panel chair Steven Oliver said: “This relationship started in the summer of 2016 and continued into 2017 whilst Pupil A studied at [...] college.

“It is alleged that the relationship in question was inappropriate in as far as it took place in close proximity in time to the period when a direct pupil-teacher relationship existed, and undermined the professional standing of Mr Dean as a teacher.”

“Mr Dean has failed to demonstrate any insight into his behaviour..." decision maker Alan Meyrick

The hearing was told how Dean contacted the girl through text, social media and Skype and the pair referred to one another as “hubby” and “wife”.

Dean, from Gravesend, was quizzed by police, who saw the semi-naked photos of the pair, but no charges were brought, it was said.

The panel said Dean engaged in sexual activity with the girl “on one or more occasions”.

Mr Oliver added: “Given Mr Dean's position as a teacher who had developed a relationship with Pupil A as a result of his very recent professional duties as her teacher, such actions were inappropriate.

“The panel is satisfied that the conduct of Mr Dean amounts to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession."

Banning Dean from the classroom indefinitely, civil servant Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the education secretary, ruled: “Mr Dean has not expressed any concern for the welfare of Pupil A, or the impact that this relationship would have on her.

“Mr Dean has failed to demonstrate any insight into his behaviour.”