A former teacher has been banned from the profession after the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found she had engaged in sexual activity with a pupil in the 1980s. 

A TRA panel found that Sally-Anne Bowen had engaged in sexual activity with a pupil, met him outside of school and allowed him to visit her home while working at Christ's College, Finchley, between September 1986 and July 1988. 

Bowen, now 63, denied the allegations in full but the ban was imposed by TRA chief executive Marc Cavey following a recommendation from a three-person panel. 

Employed as a science teacher at Christ's College from September 1986 to July 1988, the panel heard that Bowen had never taught Pupil A, other than as a stand-in teacher for another member of staff on two occasions. 

The pair first started talking on the bus they both travelled on to and from school, and also interacted again outside of school, when Pupil A claimed that Bowen had made sexually explicit comments after confiscating a pornographic magazine from him and his friends in a café. 

Pupil A further stated in evidence that he only became forward, and talked to Bowen more, after the incident in the café. 

The panel also determined that, on at least one occasion, Bowen had allowed the pupil to visit her home, and that this was an "example of Bowen engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A". 

Pupil A stated that he and Bowen had kissed on the bus they shared, before kissing again and having full sexual intercourse at her home in or around March 1988. 

Despite her denials, the panel found that she had "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A between September 1986 and July 1988". 

One of the witnesses in the case confirmed that they had concerns about a relationship between the pair, and reported this to the school back in 1988.

Pupil A reported the allegations to the police in 2014, stating Bowen had commenced a sexual relationship with him during his time at the school, and that sexual activity took place at her home. 

He also claimed this continued for a short period after she had left the school. 

The police investigation concluded with no further action, and despite Pupil A pursuing an unsuccessful appeal of this decision and a judicial review, no further criminal action was taken. 

Imposing an indefinite teaching ban on Bowen, TRA chief executive Marc Cavey concluded: "I have given very careful consideration to this case and to the recommendation of the panel. 

"In this case, the panel has found some of the allegations proven and found that those proven facts amount to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. 

"The panel note that this misconduct found was committed prior to the introduction of the Teacher Standards. However, it is also clear in its view that Bowen’s conduct fell significantly short of the expected standards of a teacher, even considering the passage of time. 

"The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include sexual activity with a pupil. 

"In this case, I have placed considerable weight on the panel’s comments concerning the very serious nature of the misconduct found as well as the lack of insight from Bowen into her own behaviour and its impact. 

"In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession. 

"This means that Ms Sally-Anne Bowen is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. 

"Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against her, I have decided that Bowen shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of her eligibility to teach."