Vincent Uzomah interview: Science teacher on his desire to return to the classroom after being stabbed by a pupil in racial attack

Exclusive: The incident in Bradford occurred just over two months ago

Mr Uzomah was in the seventh week of an eight week contract teaching science in Bradford when the incident happened (Tiago d'Oliveira)

Vincent Uzomah is adamant: he would like to go back to the classroom despite nearly losing his life after being stabbed by a 14-year-old pupil.

"My heart is in going back to the profession I like," the 50-year-old science teacher told The Indepedent in an exclusive interview.

At present, though, he still bears psychological scars from the incident which would prevent him from resuming his chosen career.

"If I can't do that, maybe I could give talks or lectures - helping kids to understand society better," he said. "I'd like some good to come out of what happened. We have to help kids deal with feelings of violence and racial hatred.

"I've been thinking a lot about how I could do that lately. We are not just a country of one race - we have to help them deal with that."

In truth, though, he added, it is not only the young people the message needs to be spread to - it is their parents, too.

"Parenting does come into it." he said. "It's all about training the kids to know where the boundaries are."

Mr Uzomah was in the seventh week of an eight week contract teaching science at the Dixons Kings Academy in Bradford, south Yorkshire, when the incident happened. The boy was given an extended sentence at Bradford Crown Court earlier this week for carrying out what was revealed in the courtroom to be a racial assault - but could be freed within three years. The schoolboy had muttered the 'n' word before stabbing him and bragged about it on his Facebook profile later.

Uzomah learned the boy told his friends what he was going to do (PA)

Mr Uzomah told The Independent that he had not realised it had been a racial attack until he attended the trial for the sentencing. He also learned that the boy had told his friends what he was going to do beforehand.

A committed Christian, he has forgiven the boy for what he did - and says he hopes he will become a "changed person" as a result of the sentence he serves.

"What I don't want is for him to come out and still be a danger to the public," he said. "I hope the sentence gives him the opportunity to improve his life."

His specific concern is to avoid the pupil carrying on boasting about what he has done as he did on his Facebook profile when he said: "The mother-fucker getin funny so I stick the blade straight into his tummy."

Mr Uzomah made it clear he was not criticising the sentence or calling for a stiffer one, adding: "The judge was operating under strict guidelines." However, he added, he added that sentences for this kind of violent and racial offence had to be sufficient to act as a deterrent.

"We have to deliver the message that racism is not allowed and that violence in schools is not acceptable," he said.

He added of the boy: "He has the right to hate me but he does not have the right to kill me."

He said he had been aware of racism in his working life, adding: "Racism exists in all aspects of life and society - in employment, in job interviews. It can come from adults but you can't just let it weigh you down."

He spoke of the day of the attack saying: "I'm a Christian and I know my faith has helped me get through. I remember asking God not to allow me to die. My faith in Christ has been sustained by this."

Mr Uzomah would not have been working at the school had he not decided to study for a PhD in civil engineering and thus ended a 10-year full-time contract teaching at another school in the city.

The incident happened just over two months ago in June and since then Mr Uzomah has been recovering from his ordeal. The court heard the 14-year-old boy described as "a dangerous young offender" who had brought a kinfe into the school on June 11. The boy was of Pakistani-born origin.

As a result of the attack, Mr Uzomah has had to put his studies on ice while he has been recovering from the wounds that he suffered - but now hopes to complete them within a couple of months. "The PhD will give me another string to my bow," he said.

In the meantime, though, one of his priorities is try and get a holiday with his wife and three children. "I think a break away from all this would be good," he said. He has not yet got a destination. "It depends on the cost," he added.