Seascale teacher convicted of assault allowed to continue after holding pupil upside down

A Cumbrian teacher convicted of assault has been allowed to continue teaching after holding a pupil upside down by the ankles to "cheer her up".

Music teacher Sean Haythornthwaite - described as "quiet and calm" - claimed he tried to take a "parental role" to make the girl laugh after she had been hiding under a table following an argument.

Haythornthwaite taught at Seascale Primary School, Whitehaven, at the time of the incident in February 2022.

He was convicted of assault by beating, and sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work while also ordered to pay £100 in compensation at Workington's West Cumbria Magistrates' Court in July 2022.

The teacher told the school the girl was "“laughing when he picked her up and the others in the class laughed with her, not at her”.

He was reported to the police and found guilty of assault following a trial after a parent complained.

Mr Haythornthwaite said he made a "well intended but poor choice" that "ruined his my life and destroyed my teaching career".

He was employed by Cumbria County Council as a music teacher, the Teaching Regulation Agency panel heard.

The teacher had been working for six years at the time of the incident and was studying for a postgraduate certificate in education.

An unnamed woman said she was "utterly shocked" when she heard about the allegation. She added it was "very much out of character".

Another witness said the teacher was "upset" and “really distressed… He was a bit devastated… He just seemed broken”.

Haythornthwaite told the panel: “I took a parental role in a situation to try and cheer a child up because they are my responsibility and because I did not have the knowledge to keep myself safe in a teaching environment.

“I made a well-intended but poor choice, one that ruined my life and destroyed my teaching career.”

Mr Haythornthwaite added that his “only prior experience to this role has been training adults in either admin or retail posts”.

“I did not have a teaching qualification and no prior experience of working in a school environment or working with children."

The teacher said he was told by his solicitor that the charge was “nonsense”, and that the case would be dropped upon review.

The panel's investigation concluded that his behaviour was "unacceptable", but decided against banning him from the teaching profession.

A statement by the panel said: “The panel took the view that Mr Haythornthwaite’s conduct was not malicious and was out of character... There was no intent by Mr Haythornthwaite to harm (the pupil).

“Mr Haythornthwaite’s behaviour did not lead to a sentence of imprisonment, which was indicative that the offence was at the less serious end of the possible spectrum.

“I have concluded that a prohibition order is not proportionate or in the public interest.”

Cumberland Council has been approached for comment.

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