Suspended teacher returns to work after Scruffs film controversy
Sarah Green, the teacher suspended after it emerged she featured in a raunchy commercial for Scruffs, has been reinstated.
The commercial took the form of a spoof porn film, and showed Green simulating sex with a builder, which gave Scruffs the chance to demonstrate the adaptability of its clothing range.
Initially it was feared Green could face dismissal after she was suspended and an investigation into her past was launched. Said the National Union of Teachers at the time: “This seems a momentary lapse of judgement and one that was made before she even qualified or started working as a teacher.”
Pete Armstrong of Iris was involved in making the Scruffs ad while he freelanced for CheethamBell JWT. “Most of the kids at the School thought Sarah Green appearing was cool, but the girl ended up getting suspended,” he said.
“The film was originally written to get PR, the client had a small budget but wanted to get noticed. We suggested shooting a fake porn film. At one point we considered using actual porn stars and making the film more ‘authentic’. In the end we went for models. Sarah was just doing her job acting. What happened to her was classic trial by internet. Dave Bell at CBJWT did all he could and wrote a letter to the school and once the attention died down she was allowed back to the school.”
The ad went on to help boost Scruffs sales by 60 per cent, and won IPA, Roses and Cannes Festival awards.
Stockport Grammar declined to comment.