A science teacher who successfully appealed against his sacking by Westfield Community Technology College is to return after more than three years in the wilderness.

Martin Elvin was suspended by the school in June 2009 after being charged with three counts of misconduct including allegedly pushing a teenage boy into a door.

Following a lengthy suspension he was sacked before being reinstated three months later in September 2010.

But clearing his name did not yield a return to the college and he was kept on leave on full pay for a whole year before being seconded to Watford Grammar School for Boys in September 2011.

After a year teaching science across town, Mr Elvin is understood to be eagerly anticipating a return to the school he has been employed at for 16 years at the start of the new academic year.

In a letter to students and parents, seen by the Watford Observer, Mr Elvin said: "I am certainly looking forward to getting back to teaching at the school at which I have been very pleased and proud to be employed these past 16 years and more.

"Moreover, judging by the comments of many staff and others who have heard about my planned return, they are pleased too; pleased for me and pleased for the school."

Mr Elvin also thanked the staff and pupils at Watford Grammar School for Boys for having him but voiced his surprise that he was sent out with Westfield continuing to pay his wages.

He said: "Given the large number of qualified science teachers and lab technicians and the size of the science facilities at Watford Boys, together with their healthy financial position, I am at a loss to understand exactly what I was doing there."

The news has been welcomed by Chris Mundy, one of Mr Elvin’s former pupils who led the campaign to have him reinstated.

Mr Mundy said: "I am disappointed it has taken this long, they should have just accepted the decision after his name was cleared and should have welcomed him back.

"He is going back partly to prove a point for himself but mostly because he actually does care about the kids that go there."

No one at Westfield Community Technology College was available to comment.