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West London teacher banned from profession after getting meat cleaver out during lessons

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date22 April 2024
Publication titleMyLondon (England)
Dr Rivers, who most recently taught at The Green School for Girls in Isleworth, West London, was suspended from his role. According to news reports at the time, he was reported to police and later charged with possessing a bladed article, which carried a maximum four years in jail and £5,000 fine, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided it was not in the public interest and the charges were dropped after 11 months

Maintaining that the blade had been for teaching a lesson, Dr Rivers told The Mirror the police investigation had been '11 months of hell'. Speaking on his doorstep after the charge was dropped, he said: "The CPS admitted yesterday that they had reviewed the case and it showed there was significant evidence it was being used for an educational purpose throughout."

But, Dr Rivers was still banned from teaching after a 12-day hearing in front of the Teaching Regulation Authority almost a decade on this March. In the evidence, a witness said Dr Rivers used the 'machete' to encourage pupils to finish their work, whilst other anecdotal evidence detailed in the report included allegations that he chopped it down on the desk whilst telling the class to be quiet.

The panel heard Dr Rivers initially claimed it could have been planted, then claimed he had permission and lawful authority to have it at school. He said the blade was 'a tool of his profession' used legitimately for 'the jam sandwich method', a lesson designed to teach pupils about setting out an accurate scientific method by allowing them to submit instructions to make a jam sandwich.

The panel accepted the blade was used to teach the jam sandwich method, but concluded a less dangerous blade could have been used, or it could have been stored in a safe place and properly risk assessed.

The panel also found Dr Rivers provided...

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