A FORMER Valleys primary school teacher was found guilty of unacceptable and unprofessional conduct yesterday over inappropriate comments she made on Facebook.

Elizabeth Scarlett, who was a teacher at Trinant Primary School for 17 years, was the subject of a General Teaching Council for Wales hearing over allegations she contacted former pupils – one as young as 11 – and their parents on Facebook between July and September 2009.

She was also accused of making inappropriate comments about her work and private life.

The hearing heard Mrs Scarlett had 32 friends on Facebook who were former pupils, and eight who were parents of former pupils.

Presenting the case, Louise Price said Mrs Scarlett sent an inappropriate message to an 11-year-old former pupil on Facebook saying: “I want to know all the goss” and discussed drinking alcohol.

Mrs Scarlett was also accused of trying to contact a vulnerable 16-year-old former pupil in local authority care, and making inappropriate comments such as discussing her favourite pupils, about drinking, and advising another Facebook friend on the best place to buy sex toys.

Mrs Scarlett denied discussing sex toys, claiming her ex-partner posted the comments under her name to hurt her.

Mrs Scarlett, who was dismissed from Trinant primary in January 2011 because of continuing absence due to sickness, was also accused of breaching the school’s code of conduct and of unacceptable professional conduct.

Mrs Scarlett’s NUT representative, Sarah Weaver, said the teacher did not realise her Facebook activity was visible to all her friends.

The teaching council panel found Mrs Scarlett guilty of contacting the 11-year-old former pupil, but not guilty of trying to contact the vulnerable 16-year-old.

She was also found guilty of making inappropriate comments, but the panel was not satisfied she was responsible for the comments about sex toys.

It ruled she had not breached the school’s code of conduct because the school had no formal policy on using Facebook, but she was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. Mrs Scarlett received a formal reprimand, meaning she can carry on teaching, but must disclose the hearing’s findings to any employer for two years.