Teacher quits over student 'relationship'

Allegations a Feilding teacher had an inappropriate relationship with a pupil are being investigated by the Teachers Council.

The Feilding High School teacher, in his twenties, resigned late last month after an alleged relationship with a Year 12 girl was revealed.

He had been at the school since 2007.

School principal Roger Menzies confirmed the teacher had resigned but refused to comment further, the Manawatu Standard reported.

Feilding High School's board of trustees chairwoman Lyn Carey said she did not wish to discuss the matter with the media.

Teachers Council director Peter Lind said the school had sent the council a mandatory report about the matter, which had been referred to a complaints assessment committee.

"They investigate to see if it's an issue of serious misconduct then they will forward it to the disciplinary tribunal," Dr Lind told the newspaper.

"This then becomes an issue of registration about whether there are conditions imposed on their registration or whether it is cancelled."

A Year 13 student at the school told the newspaper the relationship between the teacher and the girl was common knowledge at the school, but details about the nature of the relationship were unknown.

Students at the school were not formally told why the teacher had resigned but Mr Menzies briefly addressed the issue when questioned by the Year 13 student's class last Wednesday.

"He said 'he's moved away, he's no longer in the North Island, and that's all I'm going to say'," the student, who did not wish to be identified, said.

- NZPA