Teacher who pushed pupil and swore is banned

A maths teacher has been barred from teaching after he was found to have grabbed a pupil and pushed him up against a wall during an altercation at school.

Christopher Clarkson had taught at The de Ferrers Academy in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, since September 2020.

A professional conduct panel viewed CCTV footage and heard from witnesses about the incident in October 2024.

He was barred from teaching indefinitely but can apply to have this overturned after five years from the ruling.

Mr Clarkson was not present at the hearing and did not give oral evidence.

In his absence, he was found to have grabbed a pupil's coat, swore at him and put his head towards the student's face.

He was also found to have blocked him from leaving, as well as grabbing his shirt, pulling the youngster towards hims and pushing him against a wall.

"I reached out and grabbed his coat", Clarkson said in a written statement about the incident, adding that the pupil swore at him before breaking his hold.

The teacher followed him and swore back.

"There was a lot of swearing back and forth from the student and myself."

CCTV footage showed Clarkson backing the pupil into a corner, and appearing to use his size and stature to prevent the student from leaving the corridor, according to the Teaching Regulation Authority report into the matter.

In addition, he pushed another pupil in the chest, the panel concluded.

The report said Clarkson reported to the assistant principal at the school that he had been involved in an incident and that he had pushed a pupil and was immediately suspended.

He was dismissed on 4 March 2025.

Clarkson denied the allegations against him, but this was disputed by his own prior statements and those of other witnesses as well as CCTV footage, according to the report into his conduct.

He had shown "unnecessary and disproportionate violence towards a pupil," the panel concluded.

"The panel finds that the conduct of Mr Clarkson fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.

"The findings of misconduct are serious as they include a finding of violent behaviour towards a pupil."

Clarkson has the right of appeal the decision within 28 days from the date he receives notice of the prohibition order.

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