Teacher escorted from school after 'losing control of his emotions' at pupil

A supply teacher who called an unruly pupil a 'pathetic loser' was 'guilty of unacceptable professional conduct', a disciplinary tribunal has ruled.

Michael Good admitted he 'lost control of his emotions' while teaching a class. He apologised for what he described as 'genuinely a one-off error of judgment'.

A Teaching Regulation Agency tribunal heard allegations that in 2021, Mr Good initially hit the pupil on his arm or shoulder after repeatedly asking him to stop turning round and be quiet.

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Mr Good admitted that he then 'unprofessionally' called the pupil a 'loser' and 'pathetic' as he 'got upset' with the allegation regarding the 'tap on the shoulder'. A witness described hearing, from a classroom across the corridor, Mr Good shouting 'pathetic' and 'stupid' in a 'condescending, belittling and aggressive tone'.

Mr Good was then escorted from the school. In June 2022 at Tameside magistrates' court Mr Good, then 43 and of Leigh, was acquitted of assault in connection with the incident.

Following a three day TRA hearing last month he was found guilty of serious misconduct in relation to the 'pathetic losers' comment. Allegations that Mr Good had also hit the pupil on either his arm or shoulder and poked another student with a pen were found not proven.

Mr Good, who was not present at the tribunal and not represented, said in a written submission that he had 'let himself down' and was 'very sorry' for shouting at the pupil. "I have learnt from this mistake. It will never happen again," he said.

The tribunal ruled Mr Good's behaviour 'amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession'. But the panel decided against suspending Mr Good or striking him off due to his 'unblemished teaching record and compelling character references'.

They wrote: "There was a strong public interest consideration in retaining the teacher in the profession, since no doubt had been cast upon his abilities as an educator and he is able to make a valuable contribution to the profession. The panel considered that the publication of the adverse findings it had made was sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that are not acceptable."