Head slapped six-year-old girl's face, court told

A headteacher who transformed her school into one of the most improved in the country slapped a pupil with such force it left a red imprint on her face, a court heard yesterday.

Warley magistrates' court heard that Pamela Mitchelhill, 50, struck a six-year-old girl after being called to help three staff members who could not control her, at Crocketts Lane School in Smethwick, West Midlands. The headteacher, who denies assault, was suspended after the alleged incident in April.

Debbie Banner, a nursery nurse who was on a school attachment, said Ms Mitchelhill was called after the girl, who had been expelled from two previous schools, misbehaved during a numeracy lesson.

She said Ms Mitchelhill picked her up by her shoulders and dragged her to a patio area. "I saw her raise her right hand and slap [the girl] on the left cheek twice ... [The pupil] was crying, she was asking for her mum. She was sobbing, she had her arms over her face. I saw a red mark on her cheek, there was a red area and then what looked like a red outline of that finger," she added.

Victoria Sargent, a newly qualified teacher, said she felt Ms Mitchelhill's response had been "inappropriate".

In a police interview, Ms Mitchelhill said she only raised her voice and turned the girl's head to establish eye contact. "It was not done in anger, it was not done in frustration," she said.

Rachel Shenton, for the defence, claimed Ms Banner's view from a glass door was partially obscured by children's artwork. Ms Shenton said the headteacher had scolded the girl but used no violence. She added that the pupil had not mentioned being assaulted during a police interview, and that she would appear as a witness for the defence rather than the prosecution. When a police officer had asked her if she had ever cried at school, the pupil replied that she had when the headteacher had "shouted at me", claimed Ms Shenton.

Ms Banner admitted she had not been aware that the pupil and Ms Mitchelhill were later seen skipping together, Ms Shenton added.

The case continues.