A teacher at one of the country’s leading boys’ schools has been charged with trying to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex.

Dr Ken Zetie, who taught at St Paul’s School for 17 years, is accused of attempting to arrange the liaison as part of an undercover police sting.

The 51-year-old had been head of science and director of outreach and academic partnerships at the £38,000-a-year west London school.

Mark Bailey, high master of St Paul’s School, wrote to pupils and alumni this week to inform them of the accusations faced by Dr Zetie.

The letter, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, says: “On Tuesday next week Dr Zetie will appear in court charged with two offences, attempting to incite a female minor to engage in sexual activity and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sexual offence."

Mr Bailey said that while the incident was “unrelated to any pupil at our school”, it nonetheless “has the potential to be unsettling and distressing”.

St Paul’s School, which educates boys aged seven to 18, is among the highest performing for GCSEs and A-levels in the country.