A disgraced classics teacher who filmed a pupil having sex on a tennis trip was given a second teaching job at an independent school because the head felt he deserved "a second chance".

Michael Clarkson was struck off the teaching register on Wednesday after twice letting a Shrewsbury School pupil use his hotel room to sleep with a girl he met at a nightclub.

Clarkson secretly filmed the 2006 encounter in Portugal, the General Teaching Council (GTC) heard.

Today it emerged that just five months after the video incident, Clarkson was given a job at Dean Close School, in Cheltenham, with its headteacher in full knowledge of the "serious mistake".

Clarkson, in his 30s, remained at the £26,000-a-year school in Gloucestershire for nearly two years before resigning this July ahead of the conduct hearing.

Headmaster the Rev Tim Hastie-Smith, currently chairman of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference, said of the appointment: "Dean Close believes in offering forgiveness and giving people a second chance and Mr Clarkson demonstrated in his conscientious approach to all aspects of his role that he has put a most regrettable incident behind him."

Later in the statement Mr Hastie-Smith admitted knowing Mr Clarkson for 10 years, and said he felt the voyeuristic actions were "out of character".

The pupils had "benefited greatly" from their time with the "talented schoolmaster", he added.

The stepfather of the 17-year-old victim said he called Dean Close in disbelief as soon as he heard of Clarkson's appointment.

He told the Gloucestershire Echo: "I think it's ridiculous. Anyone who has put themselves in a position where they have abused the trust of children should never be employed in that position again.

"I want to make sure people like this are taken out of the education system."

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was "astounded" by Clarkson's appointment.

Another outraged mother said: "There shouldn't be any second chances where children are concerned."

A source close to the school told the paper the appointment had caused "unrest" among teachers as not every member of staff was fully aware of his past.

Dean Close said it was "confident" no pupil was put at risk during Clarkson's tenure, during which he taught classics to years nine to 13, and refereed rugby.

The co-educational boarding school has 492 pupils in its senior school, and counts Rolling Stones founder member Brian Jones among its old boys.

Clarkson resigned from Dean Close in July ahead of the conduct hearing, which told him he could apply to be put back on the register in four years' time.

The GTC heard that Clarkson organised the Portuguese holiday in April 2006. It was attended by 29 pupils from the then all-male Shrewsbury school, and he was the senior of six staff members present.

The hearing in Birmingham heard Clarkson let the 17-year-old use his room twice to have sex because there was someone in his own.

When the pupil spotted the video camera lens above the bed, Clarkson tried to laugh off the filming. The boy confronted the teacher following the incident and Clarkson apologised, saying it was just a silly joke.

Clarkson was suspended after his return to Shrewsbury. Pupil A was interviewed by police in May 2006 but no charges were brought.

Due to the pupil's age, the matter was not regarded as a child protection issue and police took no action, freeing him to teach at Dean Close.

Clarkson, who was not present at the hearing, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.