A FORMER teaching assistant at a Bradford school has been banned from the profession for life after having a sexual relationship with a "vulnerable" pupil during her time there.

Joanne Phillips, who is now 40, had an "inappropriate and sexual relationship" with a student while in her role as a Lead Higher Level Teacher Assistant (HLTA) at Tong Leadership Academy, a professional conduct panel heard.

This happened several years ago.

She sent text messages and a letter to the pupil that were "vivid in language and tone" and "highly emotionalised".

The letter was sent to the schoolboy's address after Mrs Phillips found it using the school's SIMs system.

There were also text messages sent to a number, that she believed to be the schoolboy's, that contained references to previous physical sexual contact.

Mrs Phillips also admitted to her school and police that she met the pupil in a car, but denied there was any sexual element.

A report published by the panel said: "Mrs Phillips denied that there had been any sexual relationship at all.

"Mrs Phillips also denied the existence of an inappropriate relationship with Child A whilst he had been a pupil at the School."

But the panel found the allegation about a sexual relationship with the pupil proved, due to the previously mentioned text messages.

The report said: "Whilst the panel is mindful that Mrs Phillips does not have to prove anything, the only logical inference from these messages is that at least on one occasion physical and sexual contact of some sort had taken place between Child A and Mrs Phillips and thus a physical sexual relationship had existed."

The panel heard evidence that he was "vulnerable" and accepted this fact.

Mrs Phillips provided individual support to the student and therefore was aware of his specific vulnerabilities.

Mrs Phillips was not present at the virtual disciplinary hearing, which took place on June 16 this year.

But admissions she made in the past to a witness  who was heard by the panel (Witness A), during the school's investigation and during an investigation by police - where she faced no action - were considered by the panel.

At one point, a child protection concern was raised with Tong Leadership Academy, that Mrs Phillips was engaged in a sexual relationship with a former student.

The school investigated the concerns immediately, interviewing the individual who raised the concern later the same day.

The assistant teacher resigned from the school.

Mrs Phillips also had her Instagram open to the public and the panel saw a post where two current pupils at the time and two former students had interacted with it.

The panel said this showed Mrs Phillips "blurred professional boundaries with other pupils by failing to keep her social media posts private."

It was also accepted at the hearing that she had been seen together with the student outside of school by other pupils.

The only allegation that was not proved was that Mrs Phillips had added the schoolboy on Facebook.

The panel recommended the imposition of a prohibition order, without a review period, by the Secretary of State.

The report outlined that Mrs Phillips seemingly showed no remorse for her "reckless" actions, having not turned up for meeting.

It said: “The panel has no evidence before it that Mrs Phillips has demonstrated any insight into, or remorse for, her conduct.

“There is no evidence to reassure the panel that there is no, or limited, risk of such conduct being repeated.

The recommendation of punishment was approved and means Mrs Phillips is banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.