Assistant head got pupil to deny his swearing outburst at play rehearsal
AN ASSISTANT headteacher who bullied a pupil into lying to a disciplinary panel in a desperate attempt to save his job has been struck off the teaching register for at least two years.
Peter Glover, who taught at Dormston school in Dudley, tried to get the girl to lie after he was seen swearing and intimidating pupils before a drama production.
The General Teaching Council for England heard that in September 2004 an amateur dramatics group, which included pupils from the school, were rehearsing a play at the Mill theatre on the school’s site.
But Mr Glover, who was also the theatre’s director, failed to provide stage equipment, forcing the group to cancel. He became angry at the group’s decision and began throwing stage blocks and swearing in front of pupils.
Mr Glover was suspended from his post after Stephanie Sherwood, the headteacher, received two letters of complaint from parents.
Giving evidence at the hearing, Mrs Sherwood said: “He lost it and was acting like a madman. He said to the group, ‘You ain’t fucking cancelling this play.’”
Mr Glover then put pressure on a pupil to sign a statement saying he had not behaved inappropriately or used foul language. He told the pupil: “If you sign this then no one will get into trouble.”
Anne Edwards, the theatre centre administrator, said that Mr Glover told the pupil he was in danger of losing his job and no one would find out that she had signed a false statement.
The committee also heard that Mr Glover failed to maintain a valid public entertainments licence for the theatre between July and September 2004, when performances continued to take place. If convicted, he could have faced a pound;20,000 fine or up to six months in jail.
Mr Glover, who was not present or legally represented at the hearing, was dismissed in June 2005 after a disciplinary investigation.
Neil Taylor, chair of the committee, said: “Getting a pupil to sign a false statement brings the reputation of the profession into serious disrepute.
No insight, regret or remorse has been shown into his actions, and the pattern of his behaviour can only be described as bullying.”
Karen Cork,Jpresenting officer, said: “He abused his position as assistant head and his duty of care to the pupils. He seriously undermined the school, his colleagues and the teaching profession.”
