Teacher banned for 'flirty' Snapchat messages
A teacher who sent "intimate" Snapchat messages to a former pupil has been banned from the profession.
Daniel Van Loo swapped photos "of a personal nature" and "flirtatious" messages with a 15-year-old girl, a disciplinary panel heard.
Mr Van Loo said the messages were aimed at "providing support" and enhancing the girl's self-esteem.
But the National College for Teaching and Leadership panel found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
Mr Van Loo was barred from teaching indefinitely.
The contact between Mr Van Loo and the girl, known as Student A, began when she sent him a message asking for help with her studies.
He gave the student his username for messaging app Snapchat so the pair could exchange photos.
A series of "flirtatious or intimate" messages were sent between the two via Facebook, Snapchat and email, the panel heard.
Correction: In an earlier version of this story the name of the school at which Daniel Van Loo worked between 2003 and 2013 was incorrect. This reference has been removed.