Teacher filmed stripping in front of class reprimanded

The video of the teacher's routine was posted on website YouTube

A supply teacher filmed stripping off in front of a class at a Suffolk school has been found guilty of misconduct.

A pupil filmed Martin Rouse removing his shirt in June 2008 at Sudbury Upper School and put the footage on YouTube.

The teacher, who had also threatened to throw a pupil out of a window, was banned from all schools in Suffolk.

Now the General Teaching Council (GTC) has issued Mr Rouse, from Norfolk, with a reprimand for what it called an ill-considered attempt to control a class.

In a statement the GTC said: "Mr Rouse removed his shirt in the classroom which was a clear breach of the standards of propriety expected of the profession.

"The video of the incident became publicly available and Mr Rouse's actions were seriously detrimental to the standing of the profession."

'Viewed as threat'

The GTC added it was also satisfied that "Mr Rouse behaved inappropriately in threatening to throw a pupil out of the window".

"We are satisfied that Mr Rouse did not intend to throw a pupil out of the window and may have meant the words used by him as an attempt to humour and engage pupils," it said.

"Nevertheless, the words used were capable of and may have been viewed as a threat by some of the pupils in the class."

The GTC decided to reprimand him because the incidents were "isolated" and Mr Rouse had a "previous good history".

The reprimand will remain on the register for two years.

"This reprimand marks the fact that Mr Rouse's conduct has been unacceptable and must not happen again," said the GTC.

The teacher was employed by Suffolk County Council through a Hertfordshire supply teacher agency.

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