text: Sacked: Peter Gale was dismissed by Nonsuch High School For Girls in Surrey two weeks ago . The male headmaster of a leading all-girls’ grammar school has been sacked after sending a series of private emails to a teenage pupil, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Peter Gale, 47, was dismissed by Nonsuch High School For Girls in Surrey for ‘unprofessional and inappropriate conduct’ two weeks ago. At the time of the announcement, the school’s governors failed to release any more details. However, an investigation by this newspaper has discovered that Mr Gale – who became the academy’s first male head when he was appointed to the post 18 months ago – sent informal emails over a period of months to the sixth-form pupil, including messages written at night and during the holidays. School rules strictly forbid teachers sending messages to pupils from private email accounts. The Cheam academy has described Mr Gale’s actions a ‘serious breach of safeguarding procedures’. Despite this, the National Union of Teachers appeared to play down the seriousness of his conduct. In a statement to The Mail on Sunday, the union implied Mr Gale’s actions only amounted to a breach of the school’s information and communications technology rules. The governors – who began their investigation following a tip-off – are said to have been ‘stunned’ by the NUT statement. The specialist science college and languages school, which counts singer Katie Melua and Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell among its alumni, passed judgment on Mr Gale at an internal disciplinary hearing earlier this month, ruling he had broken rules in place to prevent personal communications between staff and pupils. It is understood this was in breach of guidance telling teachers never to use a private email account to send messages to pupils, partly for their own protection. The school has refused to reveal the precise content of the emails, but it is understood they were informal and read like text messages. It is believed there were also concerns about the way Mr Gale, the former deputy headmaster of all-girl Rosebery School in nearby Epsom, had treated the student differently from other pupils. Mr Gale, who is understood to be unmarried and who lives in Godalming, Surrey, declined to comment directly to The Mail on Sunday. Messages: An investigation by the Mail on Sunday has revealed it was a series of 'informal' emails to a sixth form pupil which led to his dismissal from the specialist science college  (pictured) Alumni: Former pupils include Kate Melua (pictured) and Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell . But a statement sent to this newspaper, released by the NUT’s London Regional Secretary Bob Stapley, said: ‘The alleged misconduct related to communication with a student which breached the school’s policy on the accepted use of ICT [information and communications technology]. ‘Mr Gale accepted he had breached the school’s policy and that as headmaster he had responsibility for ensuring he and other staff acted in accordance with the policy. Defence: The NUT have said: 'Mr Gale vehemently denies he behaved inappropriately towards any student and no such finding was made'. Pictured: The school's motto . ‘Mr Gale vehemently denies he behaved inappropriately towards any student and no such finding was made. Mr Gale appreciates that this placed governors in a difficult situation given that rumours could have a negative effect upon the reputation of the school.’ The statement added he was considering whether to appeal against ‘the severity of the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Panel’. Chairman of governors, Tony Hyams-Parish, said in a letter to parents this month: ‘The governing body has terminated Peter Gale’s employment at Nonsuch High School for Girls due to serious breaches in applying safeguarding procedures and instances of unprofessional and inappropriate conduct. ‘This was not an easy decision, especially because we recognise that since Peter’s appointment there have been many positive changes within the school led by Peter and the senior leadership team. ‘However, the governing body and staff take their safeguarding responsibilities towards students very seriously and, importantly, any breaches of safeguarding procedures, and have therefore acted promptly to address these matters.’ Carol Dickie, the school’s bursar, said the education of the 1,200 pupils would be unaffected by the sacking, despite it coming just weeks before GCSE and A-level exams.
target: Peter Gale dismissed from Nonsuch High School For Girls a fortnight ago .
  The reason was given as ‘unprofessional and inappropriate conduct’
  Mail on Sunday investigation discovers it was due to emails sent to pupil .
  But  Mr Gale  denies he behaved inappropriately towards any student .