A teacher who let a male student kiss her on the cheek at the prom, ‘crossed boundaries’ with pupils on Instagram and failed to alert bosses over a teenager suffering emotional abuse at home has avoided a classroom ban.

Victoria Glaister, who taught Food Technology and Health & Social Care at Excelsior Academy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 2015 to 2018, was let off with a final written warning after a misconduct hearing. 

The teacher, aged in her 20s, who felt she was being picked on because she was young, also complained to one pupil about being sent home for wearing a short skirt.

Furthermore, bosses warned her profile picture was inappropriate because of the way she was dressed and that it could be seen by pupils. 

Police were involved in investigating the allegations, which resulted her being suspended and given the warning, but not the sack.

Miss Glaister was also caught on CCTV walking 40 yards along the school corridor with another pupil’s arm around her shoulder, making no attempt to remove it or shrug the boy off.

The teacher claimed the arm was only around her for a yard-long distance between two classroom doors – but teaching watchdogs were unconvinced by her account.

She snapped pictures of pupils at the school prom, which was allowed in certain circumstances, but she failed to upload them to the school server or delete them from her phone.

One picture of a pupil was cropped so she could use it on her Fitbit profile.

But while Miss Glaister had discussed personal matters with several students she had failed in her safeguarding duties when they told her about serious problems in their own lives, the panel found.

She chatted about boyfriends with a girl pupil and failed to alert bosses when the teen revealed she had been in abusive relationship.

Another pupil also told Miss Glaister about suffering emotional abuse at home.Again, the teacher failed to alert bosses.

The pupil was later placed in care because of what had happened, the Teaching Regulation Agency panel was told.

During her evidence, Miss Glaister, who left the academy when her contract expired, confirmed that she was aware of when and how she should make a safeguarding disclosure.

She maintained that she had made previously made such disclosures relating to other pupils.She also confirmed she understood that failing to do so would be unacceptable profession conduct.

She added: ‘In the course of taking a photograph Pupil H did kiss me on the cheek. I did not consent to this and did not give permission. It was effectively a sexual assault upon me, but due to the nature of the social event I did not pursue the matter further.’

Mr Gamel Byles, who chaired the hearing, said: ‘The panel considered that the pupils referred to were likely to be vulnerable pupils and that the issues they discussed with Miss Glaister raised serious safeguarding concerns which should have been disclosed to the School through the appropriate channels.The panel was satisfied this constituted unacceptable professional conduct.’

But Miss Glaister dodged a classroom ban after the panel found she was an inexperienced teacher when the lapses took place.

Mr Byles said: ‘Whilst the panel considered that the school had provided adequate guidance and support, the panel were of the view that Miss Glaister’s attitude meant she did not benefit from the advice and support offered.

‘The panel found that she challenged the need for such advice, for example about her choice of clothes and InstaHard Result the need to ensure her Facebook profile image was appropriate and private and instead believed she was being unfairly targeted because of her age, weight and height.’