A TEACHER who admitted assaulting a pupil has been granted a conditional discharge.

Samantha Jane Dobson, 44, a supply teacher, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating in relation to a ten-year-old boy at Wilsden Primary School.

The incident happened at the school on July 21 last year.

Dobson, of Valley View, Harden, Bingley, appeared before Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.

The case had been listed for a trial but Dobson was sentenced after she entered a guilty plea.

She was handed a two-year conditional discharge, which means the offence will be registered on her criminal record but no further action will be taken unless she commits a further offence within two years.

In a statement, Wilsden Primary School head teacher John Davison said: "As soon as we were made aware of the allegation concerning a supply teacher, we took the appropriate action and we have fully supported the authorities with their investigation. The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is always our number one priority."

A spokesman for the Department for Education declined to comment on the case other than to say that it was likely that such a conviction would result in a professional misconduct hearing.

The professional conduct hearings come under the control of the National College for Teaching and Leadership.