A BRADFORD school has defended its decision to employ a teacher who smashed up a colleague’s car with a hammer. 

Samuel Woodhall, who now works at Hanson School, avoided a teaching ban following a professional conduct hearing. According to the school’s website, Mr Woodhall is employed as ‘Headteacher Behaviour & Wellbeing’.

Mr Woodhall was working at Cheslyn Hay Academy in Staffordshire at the time of the incident.

The hearing was told Individual A was a colleague at the school and in July 2019, both she and Mr Woodhall were issued with management advice.

Then, in November 2019, after an exchange of “heated SMS messages and telephone discussions” Individual A attended Mr Woodhall’s home address.

The hearing outcome said: “An argument occurred whereby Mr Woodhall picked up a hammer from his house, which had been left due to ongoing building works, and caused damage to Individual A’s vehicle, whilst she was still sitting in it.”

He smashed a window, the rear screen and dented the body work. Following a police investigation, he was issued with a caution, the conditions of which were complied with in full by the following January.

The panel found Mr Woodhall’s actions were “not calculated and were an isolated incident”. They also noted he may have been “acting under duress following the difficulties arising from the personal issues he was dealing with at that time”. 

The panel was told that Mr Woodhall had a previously good history and accepted that the incident was out of character. 

The decision outcome, published last month, said: “Mr Woodhall has demonstrated remorse and insight into this incident. He has throughout the police investigation, school investigation and subsequent TRA (Teaching Regulation Agency) proceedings acted honestly and has fully cooperated.

"The panel acknowledged that the teacher immediately admitted the offence and promptly complied with the conditions of the police caution and apologised to Individual A the day after the incident.

"Mr Woodhall admitted the allegations in full and in his evidence told the panel that through his insight he is able to offer guidance and support to his pupils to educate them on the impact of crime to prevent them in making similar mistakes.

“It was also noted that the teacher has responsibility for the creation, development and implementation of the behaviour management framework for pupils at the school.” 

While decision maker Sarah Buxcey said Mr Woodhall’s conduct “fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession”, the publication of the panel’s findings rather than a teaching ban would be “sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that are not acceptable”. 

Hanson headteacher Richard Woods told the Telegraph & Argus: “We welcome the outcome of the hearing that no further action is required. 

“Mr Woodhall has always been open and honest with us about the incident.

“As the panel acknowledged, this was an isolated incident in which he acted out of character due to mitigating circumstances. He has shown genuine remorse, apologised and done everything required of him.

“The panel also noted that ‘no doubt had been cast upon his abilities as an educator and  he is able to make a valuable contribution to the profession’.

“He remains a valued member of our staff.”