A BEDFORD High School geography teacher who was suspended for allegedly striking a 14-years-old boy pupil is refusing to return to school after the holidays unless he receives an assurance that he will not have to teach the boy again.

And he is calling on his union to back his demand if he is threatened with further action.

Ian Ashmore, 45, who has taught at the school for 23 years, was suspended after the allegation, but following an independent investigation by Local Education chiefs at Wigan the suspension was dropped following a lack of evidence.

But since then, claims Mr. Ashmore - who has stayed off school on sick leave - he has not received any confirmation from school that he will not have to teach the boy again.

He said: "I was told at the hearing on Friday, June 6, that the case against me had been dropped and that I would receive a letter to that effect by the following Monday. I still had not received anything by June 10 and phoned Wigan. Only then was a letter sent round to me telling me the inquiry was over and my suspension at an end.

"But I have not received a letter saying I will not be obliged to teach this same boy again, and I an unwilling to return until I receive that assurance.

"I would be putting myself in a dangerous environment if I was forced to return as if nothing had happened."

Mr. Ashmore said the incident leading up to his suspension happened when he decided to exclude the pupil who was being disruptive and after the boy refused to take a card to go to a school isolation room.

The boy, Mr. Ashmore claimed, told headteacher Barry Mell, that he had been struck while in the corridor. But after a school inquiry no evidence was found to support the allegation and Mr. Mell apologised for any stress caused.

Mr. Ashmore said: "The pupil later contacted the Local Education Authority to complain and the head said he had no option but to suspend me pending an inquiry. The inquiry found no evidence to back the claims of the pupil and I was told that my suspension was therefore dropped.

"I am now waiting to see what happens, but I will not teach that pupil again and I want a written assurance from Mr. Mell that I will not be asked to do so. I have heard nothing from him so far."

Mr Mell told The Journal: "A letter was posted to Mr. Ashmore on June 9 confirming the outcome of the inquiry and he later had one hand delivered. I would hope he could come back to Bedford High School as soon as possible to discuss the situation properly and until that time I cannot comment any further."

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