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The Independent
27-06-2025
- The Independent
Primary school deputy head who bit and scratched child avoids teaching ban
A primary school deputy headteacher has been allowed to continue working in the profession after she bit, slapped and scratched a child. Claire Herbert, who worked at the Red Rose Primary School in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, got into an argument with the girl that became physical on June 18 2022, leaving the child with reddening and bruises on her skin, according to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) tribunal. When visited by a police officer three days later, the girl said the teacher had caused two bite marks to her hand and head, scratched her with false nails and called her fat. Photographs of the child's injuries showed various red marks, scratches and bruising to various parts of her body, including her face, neck, leg and hand, the tribunal heard. The incident took place outside the education setting where there appeared to be alcohol involved. In an email responding to the incident in October last year, Miss Herbert said: 'I have read and considered the attached paperwork and I will admit to all allegations listed although it is a blur.' She had worked at the school since April 2019 and also held the role of deputy safeguarding lead, the tribunal heard. Miss Herbert accepted a conditional police caution in December 2022 for the offence of common assault on the child. A TRA panel found the teacher guilty of unacceptable professional conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute. But it stopped short of recommending a permanent banning order for Miss Herbert as she 'otherwise appeared to have an unblemished record'. 'The panel was mindful that this was an isolated incident which it considered, taking into account the mitigating circumstances and wider context, sat at the less serious end of the possible spectrum of severity,' it said. 'The panel took account of the mitigating factors that were present and the contribution Miss Herbert had made, and could continue to make, to the education sector.' A number of character references provided to the panel commented positively on Miss Herbert's abilities as a teacher and that she normally demonstrated high standards of personal and professional conduct. Miss Herbert, who also sustained injuries from the incident, had shown 'genuine and significant regret, remorse and insight' for her conduct and had been honest about what happened, the panel said. Decision maker Marc Cavey, acting on behalf of the Education Secretary, said: 'In my judgment, the extent of the insight and remorse demonstrated by Miss Herbert, when considered alongside the isolated nature of the misconduct found and the mitigating circumstances that were present, means that there is only a very limited risk of the repetition of this behaviour. 'I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.'
Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Telegraph
Teacher who bit child can still work ‘because her record is otherwise unblemished'
A primary school deputy head teacher who bit, slapped and scratched a child can continue to work because she 'otherwise appeared to have an unblemished record'. Claire Herbert, who worked at the Red Rose Primary School in Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, got into an argument with the girl that became physical on June 18 2022. The child was left with reddening and bruises on her skin after the row, according to a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) tribunal. When visited by police three days later, the girl said the teacher had caused two bite marks to her hand and head, scratched her with false nails and called her fat. Photographs of the child's injuries showed various red marks, scratches and bruising to parts of her body, including her face, neck, leg and hand, the tribunal heard. The incident took place outside the education setting, and alcohol appeared to have been involved. 'It is a blur' In an email responding to the incident in October last year, Miss Herbert said: 'I have read and considered the attached paperwork, and I will admit to all allegations listed although it is a blur.' She had worked at the school since April 2019 and also held the role of deputy safeguarding lead, the tribunal heard. Miss Herbert accepted a conditional police caution in December 2022 for the offence of common assault on the child. A TRA panel found the teacher guilty of unacceptable professional conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute. However, it stopped short of recommending a permanent banning order for Miss Herbert as she 'otherwise appeared to have an unblemished record'. 'The panel was mindful that this was an isolated incident which it considered, taking into account the mitigating circumstances and wider context, sat at the less serious end of the possible spectrum of severity,' it said. Character references provided to the panel commented positively on Miss Herbert's abilities as a teacher and said that she normally demonstrated high standards of personal and professional conduct. 'Limited risk of repetition' Miss Herbert, who also sustained injuries from the incident, had shown 'genuine and significant regret, remorse and insight' for her conduct and had been honest about what happened, the panel said. Marc Cavey, the TRA chief executive acting on behalf of the Education Secretary, said: 'In my judgment, the extent of the insight and remorse demonstrated by Miss Herbert, when considered alongside the isolated nature of the misconduct found and the mitigating circumstances that were present, means that there is only a very limited risk of the repetition of this behaviour. 'I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.'
The Independent
27-06-2025
- The Independent
Deputy head who bit and hit student avoids teaching ban
A deputy headteacher who bit, scratched and slapped a student has avoided a ban from the profession. Claire Herbert, who worked at Red Rose Primary School in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, got into a fight with a student in June 2022. A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found her guilty of unacceptable professional conduct - but did not consider her risk of repeated offending to be significant enough to bar her from teaching. The panel was told how she caused reddening and bruising to various parts of the pupil's body during the altercation. The incident happened outside of school, where it appeared alcohol was involved. The child said they had been 'called fat' by the teacher and slapped and scratched by "Miss Herbert's false nails". A witness told the panel the child told them them Miss Herbert had left bite marks on their hand and head. She was referred to the TRA in April 2023 after she received a police caution for common assault. Ms Herbert said the incident was a 'blur' but said the argument 'became physical on both sides". The panel heard how the teacher 'accepted the blame as the adult in the situation.". The TRA in breach of teaching standards, but said the incident was 'out of character' and that Miss Herbert had shown "genuine and significant regret and remorse". It ruled that as the risk of repetition was "very low", prohibiting Miss Herbert from teaching for a period of at least two years would not "produce any material change or serve any useful purpose". The panel said: 'The panel therefore determined that a recommendation for a prohibition order would not be appropriate in this case.'
BBC News
26-06-2025
- BBC News
Chester-le-Street deputy head who bit and hit child spared ban
A deputy headteacher who slapped, bit and scratched a pupil during an argument has been spared a ban from the Herbert, who worked at Red Rose Primary School in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, was found by regulators to be guilty of unacceptable professional Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel was told Miss Herbert got into a fight with a child on 18 June 2022 in which she caused reddening and bruising to various parts of the pupil's Cavey, TRA chief executive, said despite Miss Herbert admitting the serious misconduct, it was "out of character" and there was not enough evidence of a risk of repeat behaviour. The TRA heard the incident happened outside of school and alcohol was witness said she had visited the child shortly and the youth said Miss Herbert caused two bite marks, one on their hand and another on their head. 'Fight was a blur' The child said also said they had been slapped and scratched by "Miss Herbert's false nails" and were "called fat" by the panel were shown documents detailing the child's injuries including red marks, scratches and bruising to various parts of their body, including their face, neck, leg and Herbert, who was also employed as a special educational needs coordinator and deputy safeguarding lead at the school, admitted the incident was a "blur" but accepted she had a verbal argument which she said "became physical on both sides".The school referred the matter to the TRA on 28 April 2023 after Miss Herbert accepted a police caution for common assault. 'Genuine remorse' The TRA panel found Miss Herbert was in breach of teaching standards and her conduct "could potentially damage the public's perception of a teacher".Whilst the panel acknowledged Miss Herbert's misconduct was serious, it noted the incident was isolated and "out of character" for the teacher who "appeared to have an unblemished record", working successfully in senior and trusted also said Miss Herbert had shown "genuine and significant regret and remorse", admitting her honesty about the events and "accepting the blame as the adult in the situation".Mr Cavey said the risk of repetition was "very low" and prohibiting Miss Herbert from teaching for a period of at least two years would not "produce any material change or serve any useful purpose". Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
