A teacher who “allowed pupils to access porn” during class time has been banned from the profession.

Bolanle Kareem, who taught IT at the former Medway Secure Training Centre, was struck off after a misconduct hearing last month found serious failings in his actions.

The 61-year-old qualified as a teacher in 2012 and joined the school in Sir Evelyn Road, Rochester, in July 2018.

Following a review of evidence, a misconduct panel found multiple examples of Mr Kareem showing and allowing pupils to access pornographic material in May, July and November 2019.

CCTV footage reviewed from November that year suggests Mr Kareem was aware of explicit images being displayed on an interactive whiteboard but took no steps to close down the software.

He was also shown enlarging a pornographic image on the screen for better visibility.

Further CCTV footage showed evidence Mr Kareem attempted to play a pornographic video to pupils as he was seen pressing the play icon several times over an indecent image.

“In view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Kareem shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach...”

On November 13, 2019, video evidence shows Mr Kareem alone with one student viewing pornographic material during class time on numerous occasions.

He was also accused of failing to discipline and report pupils who were simulating sex acts in his class.

On one occasion, it’s alleged he used his staff-level key fob to grant access to pornographic material which a student key fob would not have allowed.

On November 25, 2019, a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) referral was made and the incidents were also reported to the police.

Mr Kareem was then referred to the Teaching Regulation Authority the following month.

Concluding the hearing, Sarah Buxcey, the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, said: “In this case, the panel has found all of the allegations proven and found that those proven facts amount to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

“The panel has made a recommendation to the Secretary of State that Mr Bolanle Kareem should be the subject of a prohibition order, with no provision for a review period.

“This means that Mr Bolanle Kareem is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth-form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

“Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Kareem shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”