Reprimand for teacher who grabbed pupil by wrist

A TEACHER has been reprimanded after allegations of unacceptable professional conduct were found proven.

Adrian John Dursley, 33, was teaching at a school for children with emotional and behavioural problems in Cardiff, when he was accused of holding a pupil by the forearm or wrist and lifting him from the ground, before “briskly” escorting him from a classroom. The incident happened last year.

An Education Workforce Committee hearing found it proven that:

Mr Dursley grabbed Pupil A by the forearm or wrist;

Lifted him from the floor by his forearm or wrist; and

That he breached policies relating to the behaviour management of pupils.

Allegations the teacher removed the youngster from the classroom “briskly” were not found proven.

The reprimand will remain on the teacher’s record for two years.

Mr Dursley is able to continue teaching during this period, though the panel heard he had stopped for personal reasons.

Committee chairman Helen Robbins said teachers can face challenging behaviour and “should not react in a way that results in unnecessary contact”.

She said the committee was satisfied a reprimand was a “sufficient sanction”.

It was appropriate because Mr Dursley was a supply teacher in charge of “one of the most challenging classes” and this was “an isolated incident that took place in a matter of minutes”.

There was also evidence of “extreme behaviour” by Pupil A.

The panel also took into account the “partial admissions” made by Mr Dursley and his acceptance that he “should have done things differently”.

“This does not prevent Mr Dursley from continuing to practice,” Ms Robbins said.

“The unacceptable professional conduct was at the lowest end of the scale, his behaviour was unacceptable and must not happen again.”

The sanction takes immediate effect and will be confirmed in writing. He has the right to appeal to the Queen’s Bench of the High Court.

In mitigation, Angharad Booker told the hearing “the situation was very stressful as a supply teacher”.

She said Mr Dursley accepted he had “made an error” but there was no intention to harm the boy.

“Mr Dursley acted very quickly in doing what he did. He thought he was acting in the best interests of the child.

“Mr Dursley was not the only teacher to make a mistake on that occasion.”

She pointed out that the witnesses to what happened made no offer to assist Mr Dursley.

“Mr Dursley was doing his best in a difficult situation,” Ms Booker said.

“Mr Dursley is clearly a good teacher. He has received repeated callbacks to work at the school.”

Though he had left the profession, Ms Booker said the teacher “would like to retrain”.

The incident was reported by two staff who were left “shocked” by what they saw.

It happened after the boy had knocked over chairs before being told he could not go to the playground at lunchtime.