Head teacher cleared over claims of violently restraining pupils I'm relieved with the GTC judgment. I had always hoped for a fair and just outcome based on the evidence. Now that this is over I sincerely hope I will be able to resume my teaching career. Mr Sunners and six colleagues were suspended in October 2008 over claims that 13 pupils had been subjected to excessive force while being restrained. One pupil was held face down while another suffered a head injury while being restrained by Mr Sunners, it was alleged. The GTC ruled that Mr Sunners had failed to update or follow child protection, bullying and complaints policies and had not ensured staff were familiar with restraint rules. However, it cleared him of abusing any children and allowed him to return to teaching, describing the council's sole witness as unreliable. The ruling said: "Only a small proportion of the allegations have been found proved in this case. These were on Mr Sunners" own admission. None of the proved allegations involves direct harm to pupils. It added that several other witnesses, including governors and staff, had spoken "very highly of Mr Sunners's stewardship of the school and his care and concern for pupils, some of them very challenging." A police investigation resulted in no further action being taken against Mr Sunners or any other staff at the school for children aged five to 11. Mr Sunners, of Chiseldon, Wilts, resigned in November 2009. A council spokesman said: "The protection of children is our first priority and the council acted entirely correctly in suspending staff at Nyland School following the very serious allegations that were made. The subsequent investigations, and the disciplinary hearings that followed on from them, were appropriate and necessary. Seven staff went through the disciplinary process. Three were dismissed for gross misconduct, three were reinstated and one, the head teacher Paul Sunners, resigned from his post before his hearing was completed. This meant that the council was unable to come to a conclusion in his case.