A DEPUTY headteacher has been banned from teaching in any school or college indefinitely after being found to have inappropriately restrained children on three occasions.

Daniel Morales-David's conduct at Downlands Community School in Blandford was found to have fallen significant short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher and he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

A Teaching Regulation Agency panel concluded Mr Morales-David's actions may bring the profession into disrepute.

It was found the 40-year-old teacher had used inappropriate force and/or restraint on three separate incidents, with one of these matters involving his conduct being in contrary to instructions given by the new headteacher, who had brought in a new ethos that the use of restraint was to be avoided within the school.

The panel concluded a prohibition order was proportionate and appropriate, with the public interest outweighing Mr Morales-David's interests.

"Mr Morales-David was a deputy headteacher, holding a safeguarding role in the school, and yet restrained three children in an inappropriate manner, putting two of those pupils in the way of harm. This was a significant factor in forming that opinion," a report on the panel decision said.

Alan Meyrick, who made the decision on the prohibition order with a three-year review on behalf of the education secretary, said a two-year review period was "not sufficient to achieve the aim of maintaining public confidence".

This means Mr Morales-David, who was deputy designated safeguarding lead at the school, can apply for the prohibition order to be set aside no earlier than July 28, 2025.

"This is not an automatic right to have the prohibition order removed," the report said.

"If he does apply, a panel will meet to consider whether the prohibition order should be set aside.

"Without a successful application, Mr Morales-David remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely."

Details on the inappropriate use of restraint were included in the report. One incident involved Mr Morales-David holding a pupil around the torso for "12 to 14 minutes until he became so tired, he could struggle no more".

Another incident involved the teacher moving a child in a restraint up a set of stairs. The panel said this was dangerous given the risk of falling, particularly while the pupil's feet were off the floor.

While the panel said there was no evidence Mr Morales-David's actions were not deliberate and there was nothing to suggest he was acting under extreme duress, he had a previously good history and clearly had abilities as a teacher.

It was noted he demonstrated "significant insight and remorse" and gave "convincing evidence that he had reflected on and learned from his mistakes".