Chair of Governors angered that assault teacher is reinstated

A teacher who was suspended earlier this year has been reinstated to his job nine months after being cautioned for common assault.

The 50-year-old teacher was suspended after being cautioned in March. He has remained on full pay ever since.

The caution related to an incident in February which resulted in injuries to a woman’s hand and a school child, who was present.

After an investigation, a meeting of Wiltshire Council and a panel of school governors decided that he would be allowed to return to teaching.

Mr Threlfall also served as a staff school governor but last week resigned from the appointment.

The decision to allow him back to teach has angered Phillippa Lynch, chairman of governors.

Mother-of-three Mrs Lynch, who has been a governor for 16 years, said: “It is a difficult decision for me to make but I will seriously consider resigning from my post if he comes back to teach.

“Everyone thought that the suspension was the right thing to do. He remained on full pay throughout.

“We have been told that we have to treat it as though he has been off sick for nine months so he has to be reintroduced to the job gradually but I expect he will be back full-time before Christmas.

“I don’t think my position as chairman of governors is tenable. I don’t feel resentful towards the governors and I don’t blame the school. I feel the local authority has let us down massively.

“The school governors were appalled but with the information that Wiltshire Council provided to them they were left with little choice.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “The decision on this matter was made by a panel of the school’s own governors following a hearing.

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/8716047.Assault_teacher_back_at_Corsham_school/