A TEACHER has appeared in court accused of child sex offences relating to a 13-year-old girl.

Kim Connor, of Blyton Lane, Salford, who is a teacher at St Monica’s RC High School in Prestwich, appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court yesterday.

The 45-year-old is charged with sexually touching a 13-year-old girl several years ago, not reasonably believing the child was aged 18 or over, and abuse of a position of trust.

At the hearing she pleaded not guilty to the offences.

She will appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 29 for a trial by jury, and was granted unconditional bail.

A spokesman from St Monica’s said: “We can confirm that a member of staff has appeared in court in relation to a historical charge involving a girl who was not connected to the school.

"In accordance with our safeguarding procedures, the member of staff was suspended and remains so.

"As this matter is under legal jurisdiction, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.”

The case comes at a time when the Prestwich school, which was once the best in the borough, has recently come under fire from Ofsted.

In December the education watchdog again slammed St Monica’s for not taking “effective action” to get out of special measures, following an inspection in October.

The inspection was the first since the beginning of 2018 when the school was found to be “Inadequate”.

Later the same month the school advertised for a new headteacher following resignation of former head Anne-Marie Hainsworth. A new head is expected to take over the position in the next academic year.