Teacher who punched boy in the face repeatedly is struck off

Archibald Paterson, 56, repeatedly struck the fourth-year student on the face and body after a row, the General Teaching Council in Edinburgh was told.

Mr Paterson, who had an unblemished 23-year professional record before the incident, was taking a fourth-year class when he became involved in an argument with the boy. He ordered him into a corridor and launched into the attack.

Two other teachers witnessed the assault, with one colleague being forced to pull Mr Paterson away from the boy.

The computing and technical teacher was working at Larkhall Academy, Larkhall, at the time, in February 2007. The school's disciplinary board immediately handed him a final written warning.

The teaching council in Edinburgh heard evidence from the deputy headteacher, John Lundy, who said he "heard loud voices in the corridor and then heard a loud thump".

He tried to get between the pair, but Mr Paterson "kept on hitting him".

Giving evidence to the panel in his defence, Mr Paterson said he was wary of the pupil.

He said: "The boy himself could be very violent and aggressive. I was on my guard that day.

"I had a stormy relationship with the boy as he was always aggressive and in your face. Unfortunately, I'm not the type to back down.

"He had been removed from my class before, but may I add he was a very clever pupil.

"I now realise I was under a great deal of stress at the time, and I should have turned away and asked for help," Mr Paterson added. "I accept a teacher should not act in that manner."

However, it emerged during the hearing that the attack on the boy was not the only reason for Mr Paterson's dismissal.

In November 2007, Mr Paterson was sacked from his position at the school after he launched a verbal assault on a teaching colleague, Paula Johnstone, over allowing a pupil to use a computer normally reserved for teachers.

Ms Johnstone was so upset by the verbal attack she was unable to drive home that evening.

Again, two teachers witnessed the incident, one saying: "The tirade continued even as she was apologising."

Mr Paterson said: "Ms Johnstone was a very cold person who kept herself to herself. She didn't speak to anyone and very rarely came into the staff room.

"She had no right to interfere in what I was doing, and I let her know I wasn't happy with her. I admit I did shout at her abusively.

"Two months before the first incident my sister died of cancer, and I was also going through a change of life at the time. That all contributed to my actions."

After the verbal assault on his colleague within a few months of the attack on the boy in November of the same year, Mr Paterson was sacked from his position at the school.

The teacher appeared in person and admitted the two charges in front of a six-man conduct and competence committee of the General Teaching Council Scotland.

In striking Mr Paterson from the teaching register, the panel said: "It was clear from the narrative provided by the council's solicitor that the respondent had provoked the pupil.

"It was also clear to the sub-committee that when the situation escalated to one involving violence, the respondent did not remove himself from the vicinity of the pupil and the incident, or seek assistance.

"To the contrary, the respondent engaged with the pupil and struck him several times.

"Regardless of any provocation that the pupil may have displayed, it was wholly unacceptable for the respondent to have struck the pupil.

"Accordingly, in all the circumstances, the sub-committee had no hesitation in unanimously holding that the respondent's conduct fell short of that expected of a teacher.

"They considered that they had no option but to direct that his name be removed from the register."

The GTC panel also stated that Mr Paterson would be referred to the Scottish ministers to be considered for inclusion on the list of those disqualified from working with children.