A SENIOR teacher who struck up a relationship with a pupil at the school where he taught has been banned from the profession for life.

David Archer, 60, worked at Fulford School, in York, from 2007 to 2014, as head of curriculum for social sciences.

The school warned him in 2010 about his out-of-school contact with a student, but he had a relationship after the pupil had left the school, until at least 2013.

He was suspended from Fulford School in September 2013 then dismissed in March 2014.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership has now banned him from teaching.

They concluded that he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl, told her he loved her, sent her kisses in messages, given her a gift, gone with her to locations including the cinema and sent her inappropriate emails, including calling her "sweetie", telling her he loved her.

They also found he had discussions of a sexual nature with the girl, including about having sex with her, and sent her romantic and sexual poems he had written.

In July 2010 he told her: "I love you so much...I really hope we can be with each other soon xxx less than a year xxx".

He admitted that he took her in as a lodger at his home in 2012, entered into a relationship with her that year, and became engaged to her in 2013. He was accused of misconduct in failing to tell his employer those facts, but the NCTL did not find him guilty of that.

He had told the NCTL that he notified the school of his change of address when he bought a house near the girl's and did not tell them the other matters as he did not believe there was anything inappropriate taking place.

Jayne Millions, from the NCTL, said: "Both his sexual activity with and emotional unburdening on Pupil A were a serious departure from the personal and professional standards of conduct expected of a teacher."