Teacher who stripped in front of class of 14-year-olds was 'just trying to be cool'

Martin Rouse, 57, took off his shirt in front of a class of 14-year-olds at Sudbury Upper School, Suffolk, in a desperate bid to grab the attention of disruptive pupils.

Mr Rouse, of Thetford, Norfolk, said: 'I generally have a fairly humorous rapport with students because it helps them to work - it is not entertainment for entertainment's sake.

Teacher Martin Rouse, who stripped off and paraded in front of pupils claims he was just trying to be cool

'It is about getting them involved, some of them are pretty bored and turned off and you have to work really hard to get them involved.

'I was trying to be cool.'

He said he had been stunned by the uproar prompted by his impromptu strip, which was posted on the YouTube website after one of his pupils recorded his antics on a mobile phone.

A colleague in the classroom shopped Mr Rouse and he was fired on the spot by headmaster David Forrest.

He added: 'It might not have been the right thing to do - I was on the cusp of not doing it.

'I regret it in that it might affect my employability and I would never do it again. But I won't change my style of teaching. It wasn't lewd or sexual but I think a staff member thought it was.

'If teachers can't express themselves and show themselves as living, thinking people, who inspire them (pupils) then it is a bad step for education.'

Mr Rouse was fired on the spot

The footage showed the bearded man, unbottoning his shirt, whipping it off then flexing his muscles as he stood at the front of the classroom

Mr Rouse said although he understood he was not going to be hired within Suffolk again, he was hopeful of teaching again.

Head David Forrest said different teachers had different styles but stressed: 'I just feel there are things which are professionally appropriate and things which are not.'

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council, the education authority, said: 'We are arranging a meeting with Mr Rouse to discuss the matter fully.

'If supply teachers are members of a union, they will of course be able to ask for help and support from them.

'The best protection for any member of the teaching profession is to ensure that they conduct themselves professionally at all times, in line with the school's policies, so that they do not attract complaints of inappropriate behaviour.'