The deputy headteacher who tried to save his own skin after 'truly shocking' behaviour

A deputy head who carried out 'two totally needless, senseless, acts of cruelty' has been given an indefinite teaching ban.

Kevin Jones was handed a suspended prison sentence after grabbing one pupil round the neck and manhandling another at a special school in Rochdale. A Teaching Regulation Agency tribunal heard that that on February 14, 2020, Jones 'inappropriately intervened' in an incident involving a child, referred to as Pupil A, at Brownhill Learning Community.

Jones, 57, wrapped his arm around the pupil's neck and held the pupil's arm behind his back before lifting him off the floor. A short while later, the tribunal heard Jones used 'disproportionate force' in relation to another child, referred to as Pupil B.

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It was alleged Jones 'took hold of Pupil B's arms and crossed the child's arm across his own body and used his left leg to pin the child into the corner of the room'. A police investigation was launched and Jones, who worked at the school for more than 17 years until his resignation in August 2022, was charged with two counts of child cruelty.

In June 2022 he was given a 15 month prison sentence suspended for two years at Minshull Street Crown Court, having earlier admitted the offences. He was also ordered to do 10 days rehabilitation activity and 210 hours unpaid work.

The court heard that Jones had 'worked in the area for a long time with distinction'. But passing sentence the judge told him his career and reputation were in tatters due to his 'truly shocking' behaviour.

The judge said: "You were in a position of power in that school, a deputy headteacher providing education for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. The CCTV footage of these incidents is truly shocking.

"The situation was clearly under control. Other teachers were managing the fallout of earlier bad behaviour and you needlessly intervened when you lost your temper.

"The effect of such cruelty can have lifetime consequences, particularly for youngsters who are struggling, and it seems that [Pupil A] has, or likely has, a diagnosis of ADHD. The offence against [Pupil A] is aggravated because you blamed [Pupil A] himself for the red marks on his neck as a way to save your own skin.

"In your position of power and authority you relied on his history of self-harm in an attempt to conceal your own offending, no doubt in the belief that the boy would not be believed but, of course, the CCTV gave lie to your denials. The offence was also aggravated because it was committed in the presence of another child and, of course, I am sentencing you for two offences.

"Set against that is your good character. These offences were out of character. You have worked in this area for a long time with distinction. You have lost your career and reputation and the offences themselves were short-lived, although I have no doubt the consequences to the children will not be."

The tribunal heard Jones had been trained in techniques to deal with 'misbehaviour of pupils during aggressive incidents' and as deputy headteacher was responsible for the day-to-day management of the school's approach to such incidents.

Jones did not attend the hearing on August 22 this year, telling the tribunal via email: 'It is so long ago now that the incident happened, and it is too upsetting to go through again'. In a ruling published on September 13, the panel found that Jones's conduct 'fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession'.

He was given an indefinite teaching ban, which prevents him from working in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children's home in England.