A TEACHER who was sacked after three decades at a Caldicot high school for allegedly assaulting pupils claimed one incident was "playful", a hearing was told.

Geography teacher Barrie Mugford denies dishonesty in not telling a new employer that he was dismissed for gross misconduct from Caldicot School six years previously.

Mr Mugford, who lives in Bristol, taught at Caldicot School (formerly Caldicot Comprehensive) from September 1974 until April 2006, and was given two warnings after being accused of assaulting or inappropriately touching three pupils between May 25, 2004, and July 17, 2004.

The professional conduct committee of the General Teaching Council of Wales (GTCW), sitting in Cardiff, heard that one pupil claimed Mr Mugford, who was not present and not represented at the hearing, grabbed his neck leaving red marks, while two girls alleged he squeezed one of their faces while she was eating and pushed the other.

Head teacher Susan Gwyer-Roberts said Mr Mugford was suspended and given a final written warning.

He returned in July 2005 but on February 15, 2006, another pupil claimed Mr Mugford hit him on the head.

Classmates described an open-handed slap but Mr Mugford said it was a "playful" and "light-hearted" gesture.

Four months later Mr Mugford was dismissed for gross misconduct following a complaint by one of the boy's parents; an independent investigation by Brian Mawby, a Torfaen councillor; and a disciplinary hearing with a panel of governors.

Mr Mugford appealed but the dismissal was upheld.

Mrs Gwyer-Roberts said: "He was not a popular teacher, he didn't necessarily engage with [pupils] in a way that more confident teachers would have.

"In the past tense I suspect he was a very able teacher but the results were steadily declining and the department had been under investigation for inadequate teaching.

"I could imagine [these pupils] were being chopsy," she said. "His patience was diminishing."

Mr Mugford later started supply work at Oasis Academy in Bristol, through the agency New Directions Education Ltd.

Mr Mugford claimed the person interviewing him already knew about his dismissal from Caldicot, the panel heard, as the man had given him employment through a different agency in the past.

On April 20, 2012, a student said Mr Mugford pushed and grabbed him in class and said: "If there's one kid in the world I would like to punch, it's you."

Mr Mugford said the child was misbehaving and waving a metal bar around.

Robert Meier, now child safeguarding officer at New Directions, said Mr Mugford's job application form did not state "dismissal" as his reason for leaving Caldicot.

But legal advisor to the GTCW panel, Graham Miles, said Mr Mugford's employment references from Caldicot did state this.

Mr Mugford denies all allegations but concedes contact may have taken place, said presenting officer, Rosa Fernandez. Proceeding.