A FORMER teacher at a Launceston primary schools has been banned from the country's classrooms for "inappropriately handling pupils."

The ban imposed by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Amanda Whitfield, 60, follows a disciplinary panel finding that she was guilty of "unacceptable professional conduct" whilst employed at St Stephen's Primary School, Launceston, as a teacher in the school's Access Resource Base between 2006 and 2008.

The Teaching Agency panel found that Mrs Whitfield made a seven year old pupil (identified as Pupil A), eat custard whilst he was crying and gagging during the summer term of 2006. The panel's findings say this was "plainly inappropriate". She also slapped another child, (identified as Pupil E), also seven, across the face in or about the autumn term of 2006.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the 'Post'.