A TEACHER has been suspended for being in an alleged sexual relationship with one of his students.

The member of staff at Hove's Cardinal Newman Catholic School, in The Upper Drive, was removed from his post as police continue their investigations.

Brighton and Hove City Council suspend him as soon as they were made aware of the allegation against a 17-year-old girl.

A spokesman said: “The safety of our children and young people is our top priority. An allegation of improper conduct was made against a teacher at Cardinal Newman school.

“The member of staff allegedly involved was suspended as soon as we were made aware of the allegations.

“Suspension is a neutral act to allow an investigation to take place.

“This matter is currently the subject of a police investigation.

“We are cooperating fully with the police on this.

“With the police investigation ongoing it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”

Sussex Police arrested a Brighton man last year and officers are continuing to investigate the case.

A spokesman for the force said: “A Brighton man was arrested on suspicion of abuse of position of trust, as an adult, by engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl known to him.

“He has been bailed until March 1 pending further enquiries.”

The school in Upper Drive, Hove, was inspected by Ofsted on December 9.

When The Argus asked the Government’s education watchdog whether the inspection was prompted by the allegations, a spokesman said there was nothing they could confirm until the report was published.

The spokesman added: “We can confirm that we inspected this school in December last year and will publish the full report of our findings very shortly.”

The Argus approached Cardinal Newman Catholic School for a comment, but the school said it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage.

The secondary school has been in the news recently for banning students from wearing coats in a week where temperatures plummeted below freezing.