THE married chaplain of a leading Devon private school has been banned from teaching for life for serious misconduct with a “very vulnerable pupil” for his own sexual gratification, it has been revealed.

Reverend Tom Carson quit Exeter School after what it called a “serious breach” involving an 18-year-old pupil.

A Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel said: “Mr Carson was responsible for a series of failings in relation to his conduct with Pupil A.

"These included serious misconduct with a very vulnerable pupil, in which he exploited Pupil A for his own sexual gratification.

"Mr Carson's actions had a significant harmful impact on Pupil A's life and has continued for a number of years.

"Mr Carson's dishonest actions in attempting to conceal the true nature of the relationship went hand-in-hand with his other exploitative actions with Pupil A."

The panel said his actions happened over an extended period of time and was not a momentary lapse of judgement but a “sustained course of conduct”.

The father of two admitted engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A in 2021 away from school premises which led to hugging, holding hands, kissing and touching each other.

The panel said his conduct was sexually motivated. He told Pupil A to delete text messages and emails between them and told Pupil A to give an edited version of their relationship when he resigned and an investigation would follow.

He eventually reported his breach to the school's headteacher and Pupil A's mother and admitted his actions brought the teaching profession into disrepute.

In September 2021 a letter was sent to the parents of the 900 pupils at the independent co-educational school when Carson quit.

It stated: “It is our current understanding that no criminal offence has been committed."

The gender of the pupil has not been disclosed.

Exeter School, where fees are up to £17,000 a year, educates boys and girls aged seven to 18 and draws its students from a wide area including East Devon and Teignbridge.