'I feel ashamed': Experienced teacher banned from profession after pushing over 'disruptive' pupil with 'force' at Leeds school

Alex Parkes, 46, told the panel he was "ashamed and embarrassed" after he shoved the pupil at Springwell Leeds Academy.

The panel viewed CCTV footage of the incident in which Mr Parkes pushed the student who was 'refusing to attend a lesson'.

The incident was on November 6, 2018, the misconduct panel heard.

It was alleged that Mr Parkes was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Parkes admitted the allegation and that his conduct amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Parkes - who had been a teacher at the school since September 2016 - was immediately suspended from duty following the incident and an investigation commenced.

The child - who had specific behavioural issues - was not injured by the fall, it was heard.

Having found the facts of the allegation proved, the panel further found that Mr Parkes’ conduct amounted to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

In his evidence, Mr Parkes said: "I feel ashamed and embarrassed by the incident. I feel [I] have let everybody down; the student himself and his parents, the other students in my former class and their parents, my former colleagues at school, my loved ones and myself."

The Department for Education banned Mr Parkes from teaching indefinitely.

However, he will be able to apply for the banning order to be lifted after two years.

He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 30 January 2022, 2 years from the date of this order at the earliest.

This is not an automatic right to have the prohibition order removed.

If he does apply, a panel will meet to consider whether the prohibition order should be set aside.

Without a successful application, Mr Alex Parkes remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely.