Teacher banned from primary school after throwing pen at pupil ‘in fit of rage’

A London primary school threw a pen at his pupil in a ‘fit of rage’ telling them, ‘you think you can teach better than me, come up and teach!’

Osman Barkat, 34, was convicted of assaulting a student at Brentfield Primary School in Neasden, north London, in November 2020.

In a row with a pupil over their behaviour, Barkat told the child: ‘You think you can teach better than me, come up and teach!’

He then threw a pen at the student in front of the rest of the class, the Teaching Regulation Agency panel heard.

Barkat, who was sacked from the school in November 2021, said he had not intended to hit the child with the pen and was aiming for the table where they were sitting.

But the panel also heard the teacher, who had worked at Brentfield since 2014, has struggled to control his temper before.

In November 2020, he pulled a chair from underneath a pupil in anger because they were rocking on it and hit their ankle.

Barkat then threw the chair to the front of the classroom.

In another case, he pulled on a pupil’s jumper while shouting at them because they were ‘misbehaving’.

The panel also heard Barkat was ‘out of control’ when he shouted at a child who he deemed as being ‘problematic’ – despite there being no good reason.

They said: ‘He should have been aware from his training, including his training in de-escalation, that the way he acted was inappropriate and could have had a lasting, negative impact on the pupils involved, other pupils who became aware of it as well as on the school, its staff and the wider teaching profession.

‘He had a pattern of losing his composure which it appeared he was unable to successfully address through training and support.’

Barkat was banned from teaching and ordered to pay a fine of £120 and compensation of £200 by Willesden Magistrates’ Court.

Headteacher Nicola Harmer said: ‘The school took prompt action, and he was suspended immediately and did not return to the school site as he was dismissed from his post.

‘We take safeguarding concerns incredibly seriously and have robust procedures in place. We followed all of these procedures and conducted a thorough investigation, led by the school and local authority designated officer.

‘I know that many parents will be concerned, and I have taken steps to reassure them.’

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