Art teacher is sacked for allowing 18-year-old girl to take topless photos of 17-year-old classmate in a locked store cupboard for an 'art project on the female form'

An art teacher has been fired for allowing a pair of teenage girls to take topless photographs in a classroom store cupboard.

Karen Hutchinson, 46, lent her own camera to an 18-year-old girl, to allow the student to take photographs of a 17-year-old classmate for a project on the female form.

She allowed the pair to use a store cupboard to ensure their privacy - and even locked the door to make sure they were not disturbed. 

But she downloaded the photographs herself, and emailed them to one of the girls from her personal email account, bypassing the school's IT systems.

Head of art and design at Priory City of Lincoln Academy in Lincoln, Karen Hutchinson, was dismissed over the incident but a hearing said no further action should be taken

And the photographs - of the girl's torso - formed part of the photographer's portfolio and were seen by external examiners.

Not only that, but they were seen by boys at the school when they were pinned to an A1 portfolio board, The Sun reported.

Ms Hutchinson was head of art and design at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy. 

The independent school requires students teachers and parents sign up to a pledge, the third line of which, for teachers, is: 'I will ensure that students wear their uniform appropriately at all times'.

Although she insisted the believed both girls were over 18, she admitted to failing to maintain professional boundaries, at a misconduct hearing in Coventry.

At the hearing her actions were likened to sending child pornography and she was told she had displayed a serious lapse of judgement, but the hearing ruled no further action would be taken.

Ms Hutchinson said: 'I have to abandon the gift I was given - teaching others.'