Banned teacher punched wall near pupils' heads

A teacher has been banned from the profession indefinitely after punching the wall near two pupils' heads and threatening them with violence.

David Hicks worked as a physics teacher at the private Downside School in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, on the edge of the Mendip Hills in Somerset.

Hicks, who did not attend the proceedings, admitted making threats to the effect of "I would really like to punch your face in" and "once I start hitting you I won't stop" during a science lesson in February 2025.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel ruled Hick's conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected, and that prohibition was both "proportionate and appropriate".

The school said Hicks left his employment at the school the following month, in March 2025, adding it took its safeguarding responsibilities "extremely seriously".

The events took place outside the classroom during the science lesson.

The hearing was told that Pupil A was pushed up against a wall by Hicks, who grabbed his face and said words to the effect of "this is dumb insolence" and "I am the alpha male".

Hicks also admitted telling the boy: "One day I might snap. Were this to happen, [Pupil A] should hope there is an adult near who can drag me off him."

The teacher admitted to then punching the wall close to Pupil A's head, claiming it was to get his attention.

In a separate incident later the same day, Hicks grabbed another pupil by his shoulders and said words to the effect of, "How far do you think you can push me?".

He then asked the child, referred to as Pupil B: "If I hit you, I would go to jail for two years. If I beat you, I would go to jail for three years. Which one do you think I would prefer?"

When Pupil B answered "the second one", he replied "yes, you're right".

Hicks again admitted punching the wall close to Pupil B's head, "as words were having little effect on him".

In a subsequent interview, Hicks described himself as being someone who did not "tolerate heat very well", and his "rational mind" did not "compute" in an "emotionally fraught situation".

The panel noted that although Hicks had shown "some remorse", he had displayed a "dismissive and disrespectful attitude" towards the pupils throughout the investigation.

He referred to Pupil B as "a stupid boy who asked stupid questions", and stated he had "very little respect or time for [Pupil A] as a human".

Decision maker David Oatley said: "In my judgement, the lack of full insight and remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils."

Michael Randall, interim headteacher at Downside School, said: "We can confirm that Mr Hicks left his employment at Downside School in March 2025.

"The school co-operated fully with the Teaching Regulation Agency throughout its investigation and we support its conclusions.

"The safety and wellbeing of our pupils are always our highest priority, and we take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously."

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