A popular teacher who was controversially sacked and reinstated remains on leave and on full pay – nearly nine months after he cleared his name.

Martin Elvin, a popular science teacher at Watford’s cash-strapped Westfield Community Technology College, was suspended in June 2009, charged with three offences of misconduct and later sacked – a process that sparked vocal protests form pupils past and present.

After winning an appeal against the dismissal he was reinstated in July last year and given backdated pay.

However, despite receiving a full salary since his original suspension he has yet to return the classroom.

The school, meanwhile, has been forced to confront projected debts of more than £730,000 and had planned to make up to 14 staff redundant – plans that the Watford Observer understands have since been scaled back.

With this in mind, supporters are now asking why Mr Elvin – a senior teacher with many years of professional experience – is effectively being paid to do nothing.

Former Westfield pupil Chris Mundy, who led the campaign to get him reinstated, said: “This whole situation has become a soap opera and has been handled really badly by the school. It seems ridiculous to me that you can have an experienced teacher being paid to do nothing at a time when the school is struggling with money. “He has been cleared so he should be allowed to return to work. The only people who are suffering as a result of this are the children at the school. It is not right.”

Mr Elvin was dismissed in March last year, when a committee of school governors dismissed him for gross misconduct.

After his reinstatement in July, he was due to attend a “back to work interview” but hasn’t taught a lesson since.

Hertfordshire County Council said: “Mr Elvin and his representative are currently in talks with the local authority about his future opportunities.

“It would be inappropriate to say any more at this time as discussions between an employee and employer are confidential.”