Teacher was sacked after calling her pupils ‘idiot’

SHE POSTED ABOUT STUDENT ON FACEBOOK

A TEACHER who was sacked called pupils ‘idiot’ and ‘little s***’ then vented about a student on Facebook, a report has revealed.

Barbara Phillips was dismissed from her position at Chaigeley School, a school for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs in Warrington, in October 2019 after an investigation.

A hearing was recently carried out into allegations surrounding her conduct and a report released this month said she ‘engaged in inappropriate and/or unprofessional behaviour.’

It found that she posted on Facebook ‘if [name of pupil] isn’t excluded for at least three days, I will f*** off home.’

But the professional conduct panel hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found that no prohibition order would be made against her as she had reflected and changed.

The panel found that in March 2019, Mrs Phillips said ‘I’m not staying in with him here’ in a ‘loud and dramatic fashion’ while she was in the dining room in reference to a pupil who had an ‘episode of violence’ earlier that day. It was reported the pupil overheard the comment and was ‘visibly upset.’ A witness said a pupil told them Mrs Phillips had used the word ‘idiot,’ while the phrase ‘little s***’ was reported to have been said in the dining room. Mrs Phillips admitted to using those words, claiming it was to ‘let off steam.’ The report said pupils had social, emotional and mental health difficulties, which ‘often led to episodes of violence on staff.’ The panel found Mrs Phillips’ conduct ‘fell significantly short of standards expected of the profession.’ The report said: “The findings of misconduct are serious, and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individual’s status as a teacher”. Despite this, the panel also received a number of positive testimonials, in respect of Mrs Phillips.

The panel found Mrs Phillips had proved she had ‘reflected on her past conduct’ and assured them that ‘similar incidents would not happen in the future.’

The conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individual’s status as a teacher TRA report