Boy ‘was grabbed by scruff of neck’

A HEADTEACHER grabbed a nine-year-old boy by the scruff of the neck and pushed him up some stairs, a disciplinary hearing was told.

Irwyn Wilcox, 57, allegedly grabbed the “vulnerable” boy and pushed him down a corridor and up the stairs while escorting him to his office.

An Education Workforce Council heard the schoolboy - referred to as Pupil A - had been misbehaving during the morning break and was arguing with another member of staff.

Presenting officer Patrick Llewellyn said: “Mr Wilcox had offered to assist following a disagreement during morning playtime between him and Pupil A.

“When Pupil A was found, Mr Wilcox raised his voice before grabbing him by the neck or shoulder area of his clothing.

“He then pushed him up the stairs before reaching his office.”

The Education Workforce Council hearing was told the boy was excluded from Ysgol Glannau Gwaun in Fishguard, shortly after the incident in 2015.

Teaching assistant Bethan Homer said the “vulnerable” boy was supposed to be standing outside the headteacher’s office after misbehaving during playtime.

Miss Homer told the hearing she was with Mr Wilcox when they found the boy in a corridor.

Miss Homer said: “Mr Wilcox raised his voice and told him to come to him.

“He said something to the effect of ‘I’m the headteacher and you will do as you’re told.

“He walked over to where he was standing and he grabbed him by what I would describe as the scruff of the neck.

“He remained holding Pupil A and pushed him all the way down the corridor.”

Mr Wilcox then told Miss Homer he no longer needed her help after arriving at his office.

Miss Homer said she later found Pupil A was due to be excluded.

She said: “I was horrified by what happened with Pupil A. I did not feel it was right to handle him in that way. He had an awful upbringing and was considered to be vulnerable because of what happened to him in his earlier life.”

Mr Wilcox was suspended from his post at the 250-pupil primary school in November 2015, and was sacked in December last year.

He is accused of unacceptable professional conduct by raising his voice at the boy, grabbing him by the neck or shoulder area of clothing and pushing him up the stairs and that the conduct breached staff rules.

Mr Wilcox, from Newport in Pembrokeshire, denies all charges.

The hearing continues.