A TEACHER has been barred from working at an Oldham school after topless pictures of her appeared in a newspaper.
Photographs of Louise Crolla, 26, from Bury, were also claimed to be posted on a modelling agency internet site.
Royton and Crompton School head teacher Des Herlihy banned her after parents complained. Education chiefs confirmed the supply teaching agency which employs Miss Crolla has been asked not to send her back to the school while the issue is investigated.
But Miss Crolla insisted last night that she was not seeking a modelling career and had been `horrified' to see the topless pictures in the newspaper. She said: "I have been totally stitched up by a photographer who took personal pictures and has decided to make some money out of it."
Miss Crolla said the pictures had been taken three or four years ago and were not intended for modelling purposes. She also said it was not true that she had posted the photographs on a modelling agency site.
One Royton and Crompton parent, who did not wish to be named, said she thought the head had taken the right decision. She said: "I think the embarrassment is not with the school and pupils, but with Miss Crolla when she has to cope with all the giggling and comments."
Coun Diane Williamson, chairman of the governors, said: "As soon as the situation came to light I was fully briefed.
"I support the head teacher's handling of the situation."
Miss Crolla was employed at the 1,157-pupil mixed comprehensive through an agency and was not a full member of staff. She said she had not been employed as a PE teacher and had only worked there for four days as a volunteer coach.
Welfare
Until last month, she had been teaching at Matthew Moss High School in Rochdale.
Oldham council's service director for schools, Nick Hudson, said: "Mr Herlihy has the full support of the local authority in the way he is dealing with this.
"We are fully satisfied that Mr Herlihy has taken the necessary steps to ensure that normal teaching has not been compromised in any way for pupils ... nor has their welfare as a result of the allegations."
But when the MEN contacted Miss Crolla last night she insisted that she was not seeking a modelling career and had been "horrified" to see the topless pictures published in a newspaper.
She said: "I have been totally stitched up by a photographer who took personal pictures and has decided to make some money out of it."
Miss Crolla said the pictures had been taken three or four years ago and were not intended for modelling purposes. She also said it was not true that she had posted the photographs on a modelling agency website.
Miss Crolla claimed she had not been employed by the school as a PE teacher and had only worked there for four days as a volunteer coach.
Her mother Mary added that her daughter was an intelligent young woman who was working hard to get on in her teaching career.
"She is a normal girl from a normal family. She has never done any modelling", said Mrs Crolla.
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glad some of my old teachers never went topless.....I'd be in a mental home now
Kids see more on the tv or the local newspapers now? I dont see the big problem.We have more to worry about.If she does her job leave her alone.
looking at that photo i would have said 'don't give up your day job' if it wasn't for the fact that she's already been sacked.
While it's not on to print them without permission, she must have taken her top off in front of a camera at some point -- it's a bit daft to claim to be completely innocent!
It was years ago, it was a personal thing - whats the problem? The only issue here is the git that passed them onto the paper! Oh, and she was quite hot!
How do you break the news to the kids - I bet the boys are gutted.
What is the problem here ? Please someone explain as I can hear glass being broken by stones..Is it just an old adage or another riot ? Education authority focus on real issues !
Dear Oh Dear, I'm glad i don't have kids that go to the school where she was teaching!! Tut Tut
I tell you what!! this really annoys me. Can a woman not simply pose for photographs topless or not!! what someone does in their private life is entirely their own business. If a photographer has published the pics without her consent then she clearly has a court case. As far as people complaining they want to get a life. Does it mean she isnt a good teacher!!!
I was retired from the police force in 2005 due to an arm injury, 4 weeks later I decided to pose for a mens magazine and have had an amazing career since that day, however I chose to have pictures published and that is the difference.
Louise should seek legal advice and if all else fails bugger it. People who know you ie. friends and family are the only people you should be bothered about, let the people that dont know you say what they like.
Good luck for the future Louise, I wish you all the best.x x x
i am a pupil from royton and crompton high school and mrs crolla is the best teacher ever and why should this be an excuse to sack her? it is nt like we havent seen it before we loved her nd she was a great credit to our school we really misss her and want her back.i personally think that this is wrong having it in every paper imagine how she feels it was 4 yrs ago so y has it come up now?? the photographer is a sick man puttin miss crollas career a risk and also future jobs i just wnted to get my point acrosss she is a capable teacher and dont let this make you think diffrent let it go nd the let her settle down we luff u miss crolla plz come bck for the netball team xx year 8 pupil
I find this very distressing !
I've searched the www and I can't find find the topless Louise anywhere ! Does anybody have a link ? You can't believe everything you read. So where are the pictures ! Feminists, I love you all ! Keep burning those bras !
The School really missed the boat on this one,this would have been a perfect opportunity to use Ms Crolla ,as a fine specimen of womanhood ,to explain too the boys biology class ,the mysteries of the female anatomy,!
RachelleUK, Sale, Cheshire
Career!!?
This reminds me of the bigotry that is facing Samantha Goldstone aka author Paigan Stone, who is also under investigation because she had a myspace account to promote her novel and - shock, horror, gasp, wore a red dress that showed her cleavage. Honestly this sort of thing makes me really angry!!!
Why are we living in the dark ages? Do you think that a beautiful woman, who has a life outside of teaching doesn't deserve it -just because she's a teacher?
Quite frankly we are desperate for good teachers. So what if she was topless! It's her life! She's an attractive girl, just like Ms Stone I might add, and obviously someone at her school wants to stick the knife in.
It's time that the system had a shake up. If these two ladies were working in a shop or an office no one would think anything of it. Just because Louise let someone take topless pictures of her, trusted that person with them and that person let her down, then why does that affect her ability to teach her subject effectively?
I don't see that it does. Nor should it have anything to do with the school, the governors or the education! Butt out you busy-bodies and give the girl her job back!
Just another trivial diversion to take peoples' minds of the real problems that the UK has .... unemployment, uncontrolled immigration, hoodies to name but three. Like lemmings jumping off the cliff
hunni sue them,what goes on in your private life is your business,id sue for unfair dismissal.
Id have loved some of my teachers in the local top shelf mags,lol you fill ya boots hunni.
I wish my teachers had been as 'gifted' as this one.
sacking her because she has a good figure and doesn't mind showing it off.. they want to try looking at the methods of teaching in place in this school... not the best exam results in the country are they?
I would of thought she would of been good for the school, I mean if she was my teacher I would of been early for class and stayed late! Giddy up!
Chin up Louise ... Ignore the idiots who haven't got a clue about the facts .... As for the "parents" who are so far stuck up their own backsides they don't know what their kids are really doing ........... get a life ........ our kids are wise enough to know the script and have no problem with what Louise has done .... take a leaf out of our kids books and let it lie ....... By the way my daughter was taught by louise at Matthew Moss and says she was one of the most liked and respected teachers there ........... Crack on Louise
Well first of all maybe Royton and Crompton should do more thorough background checks on their teachers... tho saying that my son goes there and while i think it is a pathetic school for lots of reasons, mainly their stupidly strict school uniform policy that only applies to some children and not others. Frankly i wouldnt care whether my sons teacher had done topless modelling as long as she was a capable and supportive teacher, tho if she was a capable and supportive teacher she would certainly find herself in the minority at Royton and Crompton! I used to be a life model, and while teachers may place a class of children in front of a nude model, a teacher modelling in her private life is unacceptable?? This school needs to get a grip and focus on actual real issues rather than problems of their own making - what a lame school!
Clare
i reckon she should sue for unfair dismissal too, its a complete hypocrisy and would make a very interesting court case