A primary school teacher who starred in pornographic films in his spare time has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct.

Andrew Beasley, a class teacher at Ripple Junior School in Barking, Essex, appeared in “television programmes and films of a sexual nature” over a period of 15 months.

The General Teaching Council (GTC) gave Mr Beasley an official reprimand and said he had brought the teaching profession into disrepute.

“Although Mr Beasley’s conduct occurred outside school hours in his own time, away from school premises and with no remuneration, we consider that his involvement in these films brought the profession into disrepute,” it said.

The reprimand will remain on Mr Beasley’s teaching record for two years and could jeopardise his future applications for employment.

The GTC is consulting on a new code of conduct governing teacher behaviour outside of school. Currently those who drink heavily and disgrace themselves – even outside school hours – face disciplinary action for bringing the profession into disrepute, whether or not they have broken the law. The draft code says that teachers must demonstrate exemplary standards of honesty and integrity, and uphold public trust and confidence in the teaching profession.

This includes teachers “maintaining standards of behaviour both inside and outside school that are appropriate given their membership of an important and responsible profession”.

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