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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Showing comments 1 to 21 and replies | View All
Mike (28/02/2007 at 10:53)
Ace Riley (28/02/2007 at 11:39)
marc (28/02/2007 at 12:39)
Mr X (28/02/2007 at 13:22)
Batfink, Manchester (28/02/2007 at 13:25)
A Mancunian, Manchester, Manchester (28/02/2007 at 16:32)
Mike Duggan (28/02/2007 at 19:28)
Jens (28/02/2007 at 21:57)
RachelleUK, Sale, Cheshire (01/03/2007 at 15:58)
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
beff (02/03/2007 at 22:55)
bob (04/03/2007 at 15:24)
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 !
Roy Boy, Alberta, Canada. (04/03/2007 at 19:19)
Andy, Stockport (05/03/2007 at 14:25)
Career!!?
Teacher (05/03/2007 at 14:31)
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!
Colin Wilcox (06/03/2007 at 12:50)
karma2007, rochdale,greater manchester (06/03/2007 at 13:27)
Id have loved some of my teachers in the local top shelf mags,lol you fill ya boots hunni.
David (06/03/2007 at 13:46)
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?
JC, australia (07/03/2007 at 09:26)
SteveJ, Rochdale (16/03/2007 at 00:22)
clare pollard (03/09/2009 at 14:44)
Clare
clare pollard (04/09/2009 at 08:37)