A teacher has admitted having a sexual relationship with a student.

Jacqueline Marks, of The Beacons in Stevenage, pleaded guilty at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Monday to abusing a position of trust and six counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old boy.

The offences took place in the town between May and June last year.

The 33-year-old, who works at a school outside of Stevenage and North Herts which cannot be named for legal reasons, has been bailed while a date for her sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court is set.

The school’s headteacher said: “Keeping children safe is our priority and we always carry out background checks before employing staff. We have robust recruitment and safeguarding procedures. Once the allegations were made we acted swiftly and decisively by suspending and then subsequently dismissing the member of staff.”