Dismissal of teacher upheld

A teacher dismissed for slapping a pupil who burned him with a heated pair of tongs has lost his case for unfair dismissal.

Robert Harrison, 59, a science teacher at Beaumont school, St Albans, Hertfordshire, suffered blisters and burns after touching the forceps which had been heated over a bunsen burner.

The industrial tribunal at Bedford said the dismissal was justified as the slapping was an act of retaliation not defence. Mr Harrison, who taught at the school for 15 years, will appeal.