UK has its own law for such cases

WHILE the teacher who appeared at Swords District Court yesterday has been charged under laws which make it illegal to have sex with a minor, a specific law exists in the UK outlawing having sex with a student.

The law, introduced in 2001, makes it illegal for teachers to engage in sexual activity with any pupil at their school under the age of 18, even though the age of sexual consent in the UK is 16.

Britain’s National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers voiced its objection to the law in 2008. General secretary Christine Keates complained that it was an ‘anomaly’ that a teacher who had sex with a student above the age of legal consent at their own school could go on the UK’s sex offenders register but that a teacher could legally enter a relationship with a pupil at another school.

Child protection professionals criticised her comments. Ms Keates was also concerned that the legislation could prompt pupils to make malicious allegations against their teachers.

By contrast, the law has also been criticised for other reasons such as the fact that other people in positions of trust – including sports coaches, religious officials and youth club leaders – aren’t covered by it.