A WITNEY teacher has been banned from the profession after engaging in sexual conversations with a child at an Oxfordshire school.

Jack Fursdon has been indefinitely barred after his behaviour with the pupil at The Marlborough School in Woodstock, where he formerly worked as a teaching assistant, was referred to a professional standards panel.

The 25-year-old, who most recently worked as a teacher at The Henry Box School in Witney, was brought before the panel after engaging in online communications with the girl.

At a hearing last month the National College for Teaching and Leadership misconduct panel was told Mr Fursdon contacted the girl on Facebook last year which led to a conversation.

The questions he asked the girl were sexual in nature and made her feel ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘scared’, according to a statement from the child.

The panel found proven allegations that Mr Fursdon had commented on the child’s weight, discussed sexual topics, asked about her sexual experience, discussed pregnancy with her and used sexual innuendo.

The panel considered that Mr Fursdon had been ‘extremely naive and foolish’ in contacting a former pupil, who was under 18.

He denied a sexual motivation but the panel disagreed.

A statement was issued by The Henry Box School yesterday.

It read: “The Henry Box School has not been made aware of any allegation by any student at this school relating to this teacher.

“The Henry Box School takes the safeguarding of our students very seriously and as soon as the school were made aware of the allegations against this teacher, the school acted to ensure any possible safeguarding risk to our students was prevented.”

Mr Fursdon may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until October 20, 2019.

The Marlborough School was contacted for comment.