Christmas row teacher struck off

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A nursery teacher has been struck off the teaching register after being found guilty of hitting a colleague during a row about a Christmas tree.

A General Teaching Council disciplinary hearing also found Cherylyn Williams had acted aggressively towards children and bullied colleagues.

The offences took place between May 2006 and December 2007 at Busby Primary School nursery, East Renfrewshire.

Williams was sacked by the council, following an investigation, in 2008.

She faced three charges at the General Teaching Council (GTC) disciplinary hearing - all of which were upheld. Having regard to the nature of the offences, so far as these impacted upon infant children, the sub-committee did not consider there was any alternative to removal from the register GTC ruling

The first stated that between May 2006 and 12 December 2007 she had treated children unacceptably, handled them roughly, pulled them by the wrist and lifted them.

The charge also stated that Williams had placed children in chairs, pulled them, dragged them into line, shouted at them and acted and spoke aggressively towards them.

The second charge stated that during these dates she had acted aggressively towards other members of staff, treated them and spoken to them in a derogatory manner.

She was also said to have intimidated them, bullied them and shouted at them, often in front of children and other members of staff.

No mitigation

The third charge stated that on 3 December 2007, she assaulted a class teacher, grabbed her arms, held her wrists together, shook her and refused to release her.

Williams also continued to shout at her in the classroom and in the corridor, all of which took place in front of children and staff from the nursery.

The GTC found that the proven charges amounted to misconduct which fell short of the standard expected of a registered teacher.

With no submissions for mitigation it decided to remove Williams' name from the register.

The GTC ruling stated: "Having regard to the nature of the offences, so far as these impacted upon infant children, the sub-committee did not consider there was any alternative to removal from the register."