A TEACHER has been struck off after lying about her relationship with a sex offender.

Francesca Rogers, who taught at Larkhill Primary School from 2010 to 2016, denied knowing that her partner, identified only as “Individual A”, had been under investigation for downloading child images.

But she admitted not informing the school of the relationship and lying about it to the police, and accepted this was dishonest.

A teacher conduct panel heard the 39-year-old mother-of-two was separated from her husband and started a personal relationship with her partner in early 2015.

Mrs Rogers claimed she was unaware of the charges until she was contacted by the police in October 2015.

She only told the school when her partner was sentenced and placed on the sex offenders register on January 8, 2016.

The panel concluded that “more likely than not” Mrs Rogers had known about the investigation before entering the relationship and should have informed the school so it could assess any risks.

The panel found that while entering into the relationship itself was not “unacceptable professional conduct” or conduct that “may bring the profession into disrepute”, failing to disclose the relationship to the school and lying to the police were “serious misconduct” that fell “significantly short of the standards expected of the profession”.

It said: “Public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mrs Rogers were not treated with the utmost seriousness.”

Mrs Rogers, who had a previous good record of 15 years, ended her relationship with Individual A over a year ago.

She was given an immediate prohibition order, banning her from teaching indefinitely, but may seek a review in July 2020.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Schools should be places of safety for children and teachers are trusted to play a key role in safeguarding all pupils’ wellbeing.

“This hearing has highlighted significant shortcomings in Rogers’ approach to risk assessment – a failing which could potentially have compromised the welfare of pupils in her care.

“Her behaviour did not live up to the trust placed in her by parents and the local community, and it is right that she has faced the consequences.”

Amanda Brown Assistant General Secretary NUT: "We are disappointed with the sanction imposed given that there was no allegation that the teacher had acted with any dishonesty towards the school.

"The relationship ended over a year ago. We are considering an appeal."