College boss defends sacking of teacher who hit 'gobby' student

Sabia Sajid, 20, was allegedly slapped on her hip by IT lecturer Steph Crossley, of Moorlands Crescent, Huddersfield, at Kirklees College last year.

Yesterday, an employment tribunal at Leeds heard evidence from the college's director of curriculum for ages 14-19, Charles Tober, regarding Miss Crossley's dismissal, which she says was unfair.

He told the tribunal the reason the 57-year-old was ultimately dismissed from her position was not just because of the act but because she did not appear to see anything wrong in what she had done and he feared she might do it again.

Examined by Miss Crossley's counsel, Jenni Watson, a former comprehensive school headteacher, he said: "She admitted that she had used physical restraint against the student and felt it was appropriate to maintain order in the classroom.

"She admitted she had made contact with the student's hip. Asked if she had apologised she said she had absolutely not done so. She felt it had been an appropriate action to take and see nothing wrong with what had had done. Crossley clearly didn't like the student and felt that she was 'gobby' or 'mouthy'.''

Mr Tober said he would have only expected a member of staff act that way in a situation where there was an expectation of physical danger.

He said he had been "surprised'' by Miss Crossley's reaction to the incident saying she was a "longstanding and experienced teacher".

"If she had expressed remorse or explained that she had panicked or had been stressed by the situation or had been prepared to acknowledge her mistake I think I would have treated the situation differently," he told the hearing.

"However, even though we gave her the opportunity to say that if she was in a situation like that in the future she would approach it in a different way she didn't.

"She made it clear that she felt she was in the right. I thought it appropriate to refer the matter to a disciplinary hearing, to tell her that it might possibly warrant her dismissal.''

At the disciplinary hearing he said she was asked about the incident on January 27.

"She had smelled smoke in the classroom and was trying to establish what was happening," Mr Tober said. "She, (Sajid), had made a lot of noise and would not be quiet during the incident. She, (Miss Crossley), was satisfied that there was no immediate danger and that she had struck her with her hand to make her be quiet.

"This was consistent with other students' explanations.''

He said she maintained she had not "lost control and was within her rights to try to make her be quiet. Steph didn't say that either she or the students were in danger.''

Later, Mr Toker said he interviewed several students and added: "I tried to keep it very simple and not lead them.''

He said they had voluntarily given him "enough information about what had happened in the classroom".

Mr Toker added under cross examination: "She had made it quite clear with the trouble she had had with Sabia over the years that it was clear that Sabia was not her favourite student." He added that the, "tone and attitude upset me, really''.

Mrs Watson asked him about Miss Crossley's reaction. "The lack of remorse and lack of apology was of concern," he said, "and the repeated refusal to say 'hit'.''

Mr Tober said there was a "gulf'' between Miss Crossley's attitude and the college's expectations of correct conduct.

The case continues.