Teacher is banned from the classroom
Richard Cutcher • Published 29 Jan 2012 15:00
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DUNKING a pupil, asking another if their mum was single and swearing at a group of boys are three reasons why a former Windsor teacher has been banned from teaching.
Jason David Gibbs taught PE at Upton House School, in St Leonard's Road, from January to May in 2008, and has been charged by the General Teaching Council for England with a string of misdemeanours while at the school.
Serious incidents at schools in Bracknell, Brighton and Bournemouth between 2003-2009 were also taken into account.
Mr Gibbs' case was heard by the council's Professional Conduct Committee on Friday last week, which he did not attend, and was subsequently banned indefinitely from the country's classrooms.
Minna Nathoo, chair of the committee, said: "This is a teacher who has resigned from one school after another, at a point when disciplinary action was being initiated as a result of inappropriate behaviour.
"This misbehaviour was then repeated at the next school.
"He appears to have learnt nothing from this experience. Further, in order to obtain his later jobs, he withheld relevant information. His misconduct is serious."
Upton House headmistress, Madeleine Collins, gave evidence at the hearing, detailing seven separate incidents, including failing to disclose an existing medical condition in a health questionnaire while applying to the school in October 2007.
Mr Gibbs is accused by one girl on April 16, 2008, of saying, while she was on the phone to her mother: "Is your mother still single? Don't tell anyone I asked."
The most serious offence while at the Windsor school for children aged two to 11, is the accusation made by fellow teacher, Lisa Harding, who witnessed Mr Gibbs take hold of a pupil's flotation aid while in the swimming pool and dunk him twice under the water, leaving the pupil "very distressed".
Mr Gibbs argued he was guiding the boy underwater to build up his confidence but the committee favoured Ms Harding's evidence. Upton House School refused to comment.
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 27 Jan 12
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