Downside School Teacher Banned for Threatening Pupils

A former physics teacher at Downside School in Somerset, England, has been banned from the teaching profession indefinitely after threatening two pupils and punching a wall close to their heads during a science lesson in February 2025. David Hicks admitted the conduct, which a professional panel found fell significantly below the standards expected of teachers.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel determined that the prohibition was proportionate and appropriate. Hicks did not attend the proceedings, according to the case report.

The hearing was told that Hicks confronted two pupils outside the classroom during the same lesson. In the first incident, he pushed Pupil A against a wall, grabbed his face and made threatening remarks before punching the wall near the pupil's head.

Hicks admitted making threats including, "I would really like to punch your face in" and "once I start hitting you I won't stop".

During the confrontation, he also told Pupil A, "this is dumb insolence" and "I am the alpha male".

Hicks further admitted telling the pupil, "One day I might snap. Were this to happen, [Pupil A] should hope there is an adult near who can drag me off him."

Hicks said he punched the wall to get the pupil's attention, according to the hearing.

In a separate confrontation later that day, Hicks grabbed Pupil B by the shoulders and challenged the pupil about how far he could push him. He then discussed the prison sentences he might face for different levels of violence.

Hicks asked Pupil B, "How far do you think you can push me?".

He also told the pupil, "If I hit you, I would go to jail for two years. If I beat you, I would go to jail for three years. Which one do you think I would prefer?"

After Pupil B answered "the second one", Hicks replied "yes, you're right".

Hicks admitted punching the wall close to Pupil B's head as well, explaining that he did so because words were having little effect on the child.

In a subsequent interview, Hicks described difficulty controlling his reactions under emotional pressure. The panel also considered his attitude toward the pupils during the investigation.

Hicks described himself as someone who did not "tolerate heat very well", adding that his "rational mind" did not "compute" in an "emotionally fraught situation".

The panel acknowledged that Hicks had shown "some remorse" but found that he had displayed a "dismissive and disrespectful attitude" toward the pupils throughout the investigation.

During the proceedings, Hicks referred to Pupil B as "a stupid boy who asked stupid questions". He also said he had "very little respect or time for [Pupil A] as a human".

David Oatley, the decision-maker in the case, said the panel's concerns extended to the possibility of further misconduct because Hicks had not demonstrated sufficient understanding of the seriousness of his actions.

"In my judgement, the lack of full insight and remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils," David Oatley said.

Downside School confirmed that Hicks had left his position in March 2025. Michael Randall, the school's interim headteacher, said the institution had cooperated with the investigation and accepted its findings.

"We can confirm that Mr Hicks left his employment at Downside School in March 2025," Michael Randall, interim headteacher at Downside School, said.

Randall said the school had worked with the TRA throughout the investigation and supported the outcome. He also addressed the school's approach to pupil protection.

"The school co-operated fully with the Teaching Regulation Agency throughout its investigation and we support its conclusions," Randall said.

"The safety and wellbeing of our pupils are always our highest priority, and we take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously," Randall said.