Fifteen teachers employed by Wolverhampton City Council have criminal records for offences, including fraud and drink driving, it was revealed this week. Their crimes also included assault, theft, obtaining property by deception, failing to stop after an accident and possession of drugs. None of the offences involved children.

Council leaders admitted surprise that teachers they employed had criminal convictions.

But Gillian Fellows, Wolverhampton council cabinet member for schools, said: “Schools are responsible for employing their own staff, so it is a matter for individual headteachers and boards of governors.”

The convictions would have been highlighted during Criminal Records Bureau checks conducted by schools when they hired the teachers. The details were obtained by the Wolverhampton Express and Star under the Freedom of Information Act.

Last month, maths teacher Charles McGregor was dismissed from the authority’s Leasowes Community College, after beating up a pub customer in a toilet. ab.