Design and technology teacher Edward Webb has been banned from teaching indefinitely following a serious classroom incident where a year 10 student's hair became caught in machinery. The Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) determined that Mr Webb's actions placed pupils at serious risk during a lesson at Cove School in Farnborough.
Safety Failures in the Classroom
A professional conduct panel found in January that Mr Webb, who had worked at the school since 2020, failed to provide adequate safety instructions to students. He did not tell pupils to wear aprons, tie their hair back, tuck in their ties, or wear protective goggles while using equipment. CCTV footage revealed no evidence that Mr Webb attempted to stop students with long hair from operating machinery without securing their hair properly.
The Incident and Aftermath
The panel heard that during the May 2 incident, a student identified as Pupil A had their hair become entangled in a piece of machinery. Mr Webb initially claimed he did not see the student's hair as problematic because it sat above their ears, but later acknowledged he should have assessed the voluminous hairstyle more carefully.
More concerningly, the panel discussed evidence that one or more pupils were allowed to touch the equipment while attempting to remove the hair from the still-live machine. Mr Webb explained that being in a state of shock prevented him from immediately switching off the equipment and pulling the plug, though he acknowledged the machinery remained operational during the hair removal attempt.
Conflicting Statements and Explanations
The panel heard that Mr Webb told Pupil A "I told you to put your hair up or out the way" following the incident, which was not accurate. He later clarified that he regularly reminded students about hair safety and had misspoken due to confusion and shock.
Mr Webb offered several explanations for his conduct, stating he was "tired and exhausted" coming into work that day due to an "excessive workload" and having only slept around three hours over the bank holiday weekend. He also noted that the department technician had left in summer 2022, making practical lessons more difficult to manage, and that he had requested but not received classroom support for what he described as a challenging class.
Regulatory Decision and Consequences
While the panel found Mr Webb's actions occurred within a single day and were unlikely to be repeated, they deemed them unacceptable and serious enough to constitute substantial risks to pupil safety. The panel initially recommended no prohibition order, but representatives of the Secretary of State disagreed, arguing that a ban would be proportionate and in the public interest given the serious risks involved.
As a result, Mr Webb is now prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot work in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children's home in England. He may apply to have the prohibition order set aside, but not before January 23, 2028.
School Response and Safety Commitment
A Cove School spokesperson emphasized that "all staff in school have a duty to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every pupil in our care." The school stated that any failures to uphold expected standards are treated with utmost seriousness, and appropriate action is always taken following necessary processes.
The spokesperson confirmed that after concluding their internal response, the school referred the matter to the Teaching Regulation Agency in line with standard procedures. "We are reassured to see that the TRA's final outcome reflects the seriousness of the individual's conduct," the statement concluded, highlighting the institution's commitment to maintaining rigorous safety standards in educational environments.
