Teacher struck off after shooting staples at students, putting them in headlocks and making ‘stupid comment’ about vagina

Teaching Regulation Agency serves ban for ‘unacceptable professional conduct’

A newly-qualified teacher who shot staples at students, put others in headlocks, dragged a pupil across the floor and made a “stupid comment” about a vagina has been banned from the profession.

Joshua Brandon Lewis has been banned from teaching for “unacceptable professional conduct” after a panel heard how he stuck paper to a student’s head with glue and pulled chairs from underneath children.

A panel from the Teaching Regulation Agency found he also aimed “abusive” and “derogatory” language towards pupils, including the term “retard”.

Mr Lewis joined Carlton le Willows Academy in Nottingham as a newly-qualified maths teacher in 2017, the same year he made comment about a vagina to a student.

After a pupil described a drawing as looking like her friend’s vagina, Mr Lewis said something like: “If your vagina looks like that you have got a problem.”

He later said it was a “stupid comment”.

“The panel took the view that Mr Lewis had not intended to be malicious in making this comment and that he had actually intended for it to be a joke,” Alan Meyrick, the decision maker, said

“Nevertheless, the panel considered the comment to be wholly inappropriate.”

The 26-year-old was also found to have dragged a pupil along the floor, placing one or more in headlocks and spreading glue on a piece of paper, then sticking it on the side of a student’s face.

Several pupils said Mr Lewis’ behaviour had left them feeling “uncomfortable”.

The Teaching Regulation Agency has banned the 26-year-old from the profession indefinitely.

He was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and behaviour that could bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Lewis “had not shown any remorse or insight to the panel for his actions” and did not attend the hearing, Mr Meyrick said.

Craig Weaver, Carlton le Willows Academy headteacher said: “We welcome the outcome of the hearing and are pleased that it has reached its conclusion this week.

“This hearing comes after Carlton le Willows launched an initial investigation, in accordance with academy procedure, after concerns were raised with us. We then referred the matter ourselves to the Teacher Regulation Agency."