A TEACHER who swore at pupils, pushed over a student and pulled the hair of another has been spared a teaching ban.

Trevor Goode, former teacher at Lea Valley High School in Bullsmoor Lane, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct at a disciplinary committee of the General Teaching Council on Tuesday.

Mr Goode, who left the school in June last year after complaints against him, was ordered to go on a behaviour management course in the next six months but not given any ban from teaching.

The committee found that in November 2009, he told a student he “had a face like a baboon's a**e”, before a series of misdemeanours last year that led to him leaving the school.

In May, he pulled the hair of a student and made an inappropriate remark to her, and in June he pushed over a student who was trying to tie their shoe lace.

Later that month he grabbed a student by the collar – causing them to fall backwards onto the floor and experience a choking sensation.

Janet Cullen, principal of the school, said: “Lea Valley High School takes a duty of care towards students’ safety seriously.

“Mr Goode left the school employment in June 2010 following an investigation into serious allegations about his conduct towards students.

“The school took such a serious view about this case that this was referred to General Teaching Council which has reported its findings this week.”

In its findings the General Teaching Council said that because Mr Goode had cooperated with its inquiry and shown remorse that it wanted to give him the opportunity to rebuild his career.