A teacher who threatened a pupil, saying that he would “knock your fucking lights out” has been told that he is allowed to continue to teach.

David Tomkins, a teacher at the Robert Napier School, in Kent, admitted to inappropriate behaviour towards a Year 8 pupil.

A panel at the National College for Teaching and Leadership heard how the pupil, referred to as Pupil A, was defiant and disruptive during Mr Tomkins’ lesson. He then walked around the classroom, singing “You’re ugly” loudly, and directing the words at Mr Tomkins.

Pupil A then barged past Mr Tomkins in order to leave via a door to the playground. But he kept his hand on the door handle, so that he could still call to his friends inside the classroom.

Mr Tomkins then pushed the boy’s hand off the door handle. But he told the panel that he did not use any force to remove Pupil A’s hand: he simply wanted to close the door.

After these events, Mr Tomkins then followed Pupil A into the playground, and said: “I don’t care if I get sent to prison - I’ll knock your fucking lights out.”

‘Threatening language’

Another member of staff was forced to restrain Mr Tomkins and return him to the classroom.

Mr Tomkins told the tribunal that he was only concerned that Pupil A should be made aware of the inappropriateness of his behaviour. However, he accepted that it was inappropriate to swear at a pupil and to use threatening language.

The panel’s report, published today, reveals that Mr Tomkins accepted that pupils might have been shocked by his behaviour.

“Mr Tomkins stated that pupils might not have wanted to be present in any of his lessons again, and might lose enthusiasm for his subject as a result of witnessing his behaviour,” the report states.

The panel agreed that Mr Tomkins’ conduct “was outside that which could reasonably be tolerated”.

‘A great loss’

However, it observed that behaviour and discipline were particular challenges at his school. In addition, Mr Tomkins had been asked to teach GCSE lessons in subjects in which he was not trained.

He was also tired from having worked long days on the day of the incident and the day before.

The panel then noted that Mr Tomkins had been a good teacher during his 17-year career. The report states: “No doubt had been cast upon his abilities as an educator, and he was able to continue to make a valuable contribution to the profession.”

Decision-maker Dawn Dandy concluded that Mr Tomkins was “a good teacher who would be a great loss to the teaching profession”.

She therefore decided not to bar him from teaching, stating: “A prohibition order would clearly deprive the public of his contribution to the profession for the period that it is in force.”

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