THE former head of South Wilts’ art department has been banned from the country’s classrooms for life after she began a lesbian affair with an 18-year-old pupil.

Debbie Evans, 55, who taught at South Wilts Grammar School in Salisbury for 23 years was found guilty by a disciplinary panel of unacceptable conduct that could bring the teaching profession into disrepute, and has been banned from ever teaching again.

The National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) disciplinary panel was told Evans began teaching at the school in 1990 and had had an unblemished record.

But a sexual relationship developed between her and a pupil in 2010, which continued after the girl, who was 18, left the school.

Evans admitted she had “abused her position of trust by entering into an inappropriate relationship, including of a sexual nature” with the girl. Evans resigned from the school in December 2013. The panel said her conduct fell “significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.”

NCTL official Paul Heathcote said Evans had been found to have “abused her position of trust,” that her actions were “sexually motivated” and had caused the girl emotional harm.

He said the disciplinary panel considered she was guilty of “serious sexual misconduct.”

He continued: “Ms Evans has shown insight into her actions and is remorseful. She has co-operated with this process and the panel have judged that she does not pose a continuing threat to pupils.

“However, having paid due regard to the maintenance of public confidence in the profession and the declaring and upholding of proper standards of conduct, the panel have recommended the order should be without the opportunity for an application to have it set aside. I agree with this recommendation.”

The ban stipulates that she will not be allowed to apply to have the ban set aside.

She can, however, appeal to the High Court.

In a statement released yesterday, the school's chairman of governors Diane Atkins said: "Once the matter was brought to the school’s attention, the school acted promptly.

"A proper and detailed investigation was conducted using formal school procedures working with the relevant external agencies. The matter was then referred to the National College for Teaching and Leadership.

"The school takes any matter raised of a safeguarding nature extremely seriously and will always act promptly and take appropriate action."