A teacher has been banned from the profession for life following a serious incident where he threw a pupil out of a school doorway and onto a playground.
The Incident and Initial Response
Joseph Luttman, who was working at Marland School in Barnstaple, admitted to a series of physical actions against a child, referred to as Pupil A. The event occurred during a lesson when Luttman said two pupils were chasing each other. He first pushed Pupil A, causing the child to fall to the floor. After Pupil A stood up, Luttman pushed him into another pupil twice.
The most severe action came next. Luttman admitted he then picked up Pupil A by the right arm and shoulder, using both arms to lift and throw the child out of an open doorway. This caused Pupil A to land on his back in an outside garden area.
The matter came to light after Pupil A's mother emailed the school on 7 September 2023, questioning why she had not been asked to sign an accident form. The following day, she sent another email alleging her son had been hurt by a staff member, resulting in bruises, scrapes, and marks on his body and head.
Investigation and Admission of Guilt
A multi-agency strategy meeting was quickly convened, involving school officers, the Local Authority Designated Officer, and the police. In January 2024, Luttman accepted a police caution for assault by beating, contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
In proceedings with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), Luttman agreed to the allegations being considered without a hearing. He provided a signed statement of agreed facts, admitting to unacceptable professional conduct.
The panel's review revealed further concerning behaviour. When Pupil A attempted to tell his mother about the incident, Luttman poked and tickled the student while he was in a car seat in an attempt to distract him. School emails showed an assistant head teacher initially downplayed the event, suggesting the teacher and pupil had simply "bumped into each other" and "had a giggle about it."
Panel Findings and Lifetime Ban
The professional conduct panel was unequivocal in its findings. It stated Luttman's actions "significantly short of the standards expected of the profession" and a clear breach of safeguarding guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education.
His physical conduct was described as "threatening and intimidating, given that these were actions by an adult against a young child". CCTV evidence confirmed Luttman had not used anything that could be considered "reasonable force." The TRA also condemned his attempt to distract the pupil from reporting the assault to his parent.
As a result, Joseph Luttman has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and is not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. This decisive action underscores the severe consequences for breaches of trust and safeguarding in the education sector.
