A Shropshire schoolteacher let a student have sex in his bed on a school trip while he took pictures on a mobile phone after setting up a video camera, a tribunal heard today.Michael Clarkson, who is in his 30s, was suspended from his position as a classics teacher at Shrewsbury School following an Easter school trip with students in 2006.

A General Teaching Council conduct hearing in Birmingham today was told Mr Clarkson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct when he was in charge of a tennis training camp in Portugal between April 6 and 13, 2006.

The tribunal was told Clarkson condoned a student in his care – known as Pupil A – to engage in sexual intercourse in a bedroom allocated to him by not discouraging it; took pictures of and set up a video camera to record Pupil A; failed to enforce reasonable curfews; allowed students to drink excessively and was, on occasions, under the influence of alcohol himself.

Through his representative, Trevor Whincup, Mr Clarkson accepted a number of the allegations.

Mr Whincup said: “He accepts he condoned activity in allegation one in so far as it was likely to happen.

“He admits he took photos and set up a video camera but there was no meaningful images produced or any intention to produce any meaningful images.”

He also partially admitted allegations three and four.

“But he denies he was under the influence of alcohol while discharging a duty of care towards the students,” Mr Whincup said.

Presenting officer Bradley Albuery said that following the trip on April 24, Pupil A spoke to the school chaplain about events that happened.

He said: “On April 12, Pupil A returned to the villa at 4.30am with the accompaniment of a girl. Pupil A had sex with the girl in Mr Clarkson’s bed.”

The hearing was told the student noticed Mr Clarkson attempting to take pictures of him on a mobile camera phone.

The male student swore at him and Mr Clarkson left. Mr Albuery said that after having sex for a second time Pupil A noticed the video camera pointed in the direction of the bed.

Mr Albuery said Mr Clarkson was guilty of behaving like his students.

The hearing continues.

By Russell Roberts