A “remorseless” married teacher who argued he kissed a pupil because he “was stressed” has been banned for life.

Media studies head Lee Fountain was cautioned by police following the incident at Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Ramsgate, in 2022 and soon left his role of 15 years.

The then 44-year-old and a sixth-form student (Pupil A) were in a classroom when he approached her while she was putting on her jacket and kissed her.

Cameras caught the moment, as well as a second kiss when Pupil A put her arms around his neck and he put his arm around her.

This illegal behaviour only came to light when senior staff at the renowned selective - attended by former Tory leader Sir Edward Heath and Labour MP John Ovenden - reviewed CCTV footage of the IT lab as part of disciplinary proceedings against other students.

Fountain was immediately suspended by the school and a week later was formally cautioned after admitting an offence of sexual activity with a child by an adult in a position of trust.

At a teacher misconduct panel, Mr Fountain confessed to not maintaining appropriate boundaries by touching and kissing the pupil, and that his actions were sexually motivated.

During the hearing, he attributed his behaviour to “stress, a temporary massive lapse in judgement and through allowing myself to get too close to a student”.

The panel said this did not show “true insight and remorse” on his part and found him guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

The Secretary of State for Education moved to ban Fountain from the industry for life, and said he will be given no opportunity to apply for the restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Announcing the news, Teaching Regulation Agency bosses said: “The panel considered that the act of kissing on the lips is an inherently intimate and sexual act.

“The panel found that Mr Fountain put his arm around Pupil A in the act of kissing Pupil A and when viewed in that context, it could not be distinguished from that act and was also sexually motivated.

“The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Fountain, in relation to the facts found proved, involved breaches of Keeping Children Safe In Education, namely the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

“Whilst the panel considered Mr Fountain’s actions were not pre-meditated, there was no evidence that Mr Fountain’s actions in the moment were not deliberate.

“There was no evidence that Mr Fountain was acting under extreme duress.”

Mr Fountain commenced employment as an English teacher at Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School in September 2007.

The historic grammar dates back to the 1700s.

Lists of its former pupils include the likes of TV personality Frank Muir, Hawkwind founder Nik Turner, Olympic gold-winning hockey player Sean Kerly and rugby player Matt Corker.