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A Teacher Used to be banned from class After stopping a child while singing a nursery rhyme.
Benjamin Guilfoyle, 39, worked at The Lion Specialist School In lancaster When the incident occurred in July 2022. completes school students Those aged four to 19, who have severe to profound learning difficulties and complex needs.
a teaching misconduct panel They found that a 39-year-old student “unreasonably physically restrained” his pupil and then grabbed his pupil’s hands despite her attempts to break free from his grip.
A witness said Mr Guilfoyle was “getting angrier than usual”, including shouting, as he attempted to accompany the pupils to the children’s song ‘Row Row Row Your Boat’ by holding their hands and moving their bodies forward and backward, the hearing was told. The pupil ran to the corner of the room and “appeared distressed”, he said.
In standard safety practice, Guilfoyle called for teaching assistants to look at the student’s hand. The hearing was told that “a red and purple mark approximately 2 cm long” was found under the skin.
The panel also concluded that Guilfoyle’s actions were against the pupils’ Positive Behavior Support Plan and the school’s behavior policy.
It was found that she did not follow expected steps before using physical restraint, such as asking for support from teaching assistants or using calming techniques.
The panel expressed particular concern over suggestions that Gilfoyle had not read relevant safety and protection material while working at the school, despite being asked to do so, and that he had returned to the classroom after the incident, and had disregarded orders from the headteacher.
“These lapses were seen as indicative of a broader issue with Mr. Guilfoyle prioritizing safety and following other instructions,” it said.
The panel found that an immediate teaching ban would be both “proportionate and appropriate” given the “seriousness” of Mr Guilfoyle’s actions.
Acting on behalf of the Education Secretary, David Oatley highlighted the panel’s comments that “a strong public interest in the safety and well-being of pupils and the safety of other members of the public was considered”.
He also pointed to the panel’s findings that although Guilfoyle had expressed remorse, his lack of insight led them to fear that his behavior might be repeated.
Mr Oatley said he considered the prohibition order necessary to “maintain public confidence in the profession”.
Therefore, he concluded: “Mr Benjamin Guilfoyle is banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth residence or children’s home in England.”
Mr Guilfoyle can apply to have the ban reviewed in two years’ time.