Nursery head banned from teaching after force feeding
A Birmingham nursery school headteacher who force-fed children in her care was banned from teaching last week.
Patricia Ann Baynes, head of Bordesley Green East Nursery School for 23 years, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by a committee of the General Teaching Council (GTC). During the tribunal, she was accused of force-feeding, assaulting and unfairly punishing children in the nursery school (News, 20 March).
The GTC stated in their announced decision, 'We are satisfied that these incidents did occur and we find that they constituted assaults on these very young pupils, aged three to four.'
Mrs Baynes was found guilty of assault in relation to 'force-feeding' and 'rough handling of pupils by dragging them along corridors'.
Many employees and ex-staff gave evidence against her. It was also found Mrs Baynes 'seriously demeaned or undermined colleagues by behaving inappropriately towards them'. The tribunal ruled that Mrs Baynes' teacher registration be withdrawn immediately
The GTC said, 'Witnesses were called who spoke in support of Mrs Baynes, including two former Chairs of Governors who spoke highly of Mrs Baynes' character and her commitment to the school. However, she was clearly and by her own admission a forceful character who appears to have polarised opinions about her.
'We have heard evidence that this was a very good school which received a very positive Ofsted Report in 2000, praising the school and Mrs Baynes' leadership of it as head teacher, and it was highly regarded in its local community,' it continued.
'We have found it difficult to understand, particularly in relation to allegations directly concerning pupil welfare, how these matters were allowed to continue unreported for such a long time.'
