A “touchy-feely” teacher at a private school has been banned from the profession for inappropriate behaviour toward a female pupil which included touching her bottom and kissing her forehead.

However, a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel did not find that Michael Hague’s actions were sexually motivated.

Instead, it described his actions as “old-fashioned and not in keeping with necessary safeguarding requirements of today’s society”.

The panel ruled that his conduct was unacceptable professional conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Hague, 55, admitted that while working as an unqualified PE teacher and tennis coach at Hill House School, in Doncaster, he had kissed a pupil on the forehead and hugged her.

He also admitted that he had contacted her on his mobile phone.

The panel report highlights text messages sent between them which ended with “xx” - denoting kisses, including an exchange sent after midnight.

A report by the TRA shows the panel heard evidence from the pupil that Mr Hague touched her bottom.

The pupil said this had happened on three occasions. She accepted one may have been inadvertent but said the other two occasions were deliberate.

She had raised concerns about this to the safeguarding lead at the school in 2016 who made a report to Doncaster Children’s Service Trust.

A police investigation took place but Mr Hague was not charged with any offence. He subsequently resigned from the school later that year.

The safeguarding lead at the school told the panel that Mr Hague was known to be “touchy-feely” with the pupils.

Mr Hague had denied the allegation that he touched the pupil’s bottom but the panel said that it found the pupil’s account to be more persuasive and found this allegation proven.

Mr Hague admitted kissing the pupil on the head but described as a “dad kiss often after a hug.”

The TRA panel dismissed allegations that Mr Hague had made comments of a sexual nature to the pupil.

One of these had been alleged to have been made after the pupil gave Mr Hague a lift in her car.

It also rejected the allegations that his actions were of a sexual nature or were sexually motivated.

Mr Hague had denied that any of his conduct was sexually motivated and said that it was “carried out for the benefit of her welfare and was a sign of affection rather than anything nefarious.”

The panel said that while his actions, hugging, kissing the pupil’s head and contacting her by phone were inappropriate they could not discount that these took place “because of some misplaced display of concern for pupil A’s welfare.”

It, therefore, did not find the allegation proven.

The panel recommended Mr Hague be banned from teaching with the ability to apply for this to be reviewed after two years.

This has been accepted by the Department for Education.