A FORMER Chepstow School drama teacher who had sex with a teenager at a £12,600-a-term girls’ boarding school has been given a life-time teaching ban.

Matthew McGowan, 38, used a secret code to meet with a girl privately during drama rehearsals before engaging in sexual activity with her at his office and car, a disciplinary panel has heard.

His campaign at Wycombe Abbey School, Buckinghamshire, started after he wrote ’Happy Valentines Day from a secret admirer;)’ in her diary.

The panel heard he later had sex with her after she left the school whose former pupils include actresses Rachael Stirling, Sally Phillips and Eve Best, playwright Polly Stenham and High Court Judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.

McGowan assured heads at Wycombe Abbey School, he had "learned a valuable lesson" after the diary note was reported in 2013.

But the disgraced teacher later touched the girl’s bottom and stroked her thighs during rehearsals for a school play.

McGowan also gave her his personal email address in October 2014, wrote inappropriate messages on one or more occasions and gave her his private mobile number.

He developed an "inappropriate relationship" with her after sending her personal emails while she was in sixth-form and they had sex after she left the school in 2015.

Many were “flirtatious” and one read: “As you know I live for the stalking its always good to see the new videos however the swan dives aren’t the hottest hahha x”.

A staff member named only as Individual A told the panel: "Mr McGowan devised a system which involved him catching her eye and nodding if he wanted help in closing a meeting with a pupil.

"Individual A said that this system was used on several occasions in relation to meetings that Pupil A was having with Mr McGowan."

A statement from the National College of Teaching and Leadership said: "Pupil A stated that they became very physical, including engaging in oral sex and foreplay, but only had sexual intercourse on one occasion.

"Pupil A stated that some of the sexual activity took place in the school, specifically in Mr McGowan’s office, and that they also met up on other occasions, such as in Mr McGowan’s car."

The shameless teacher "surprised" the panel by claims the teenager was making false allegations against him in a bid to stop him getting married.

"Mr McGowan stated that this was the catalyst for Pupil A’s future behaviour towards him and is the explanation for Pupil A making false allegations against him," said a statement.

"This explanation was not included in Mr McGowan’s written statement or any earlier account. His oral evidence was the first time that he referred to this important event, which the panel found surprising."

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said officers found no offences had taken place after investigating McGowan for child protection issue allegations at the school last July.