PE Teacher who dragged a school girl across a changing room floor because she took too long to tie her shoelaces is spared classroom ban

By NICK CRAVEN, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 13:50, 5 April 2026 | Updated: 13:50, 5 April 2026 A PE teacher who hauled a Year 8 girl across a changing room floor because she took 'too long to tie her shoelaces' has been spared a classroom ban. Sports teacher Charlotte Venables grabbed the pupil by the ankle as she tried to get her out of the girls’ changing room at Stewards Academy in Harlow, Essex. The pupil has been sitting on a bench tying her shoelaces when Venables pulled at her, causing her to fall to the floor, a misconduct hearing was told. She then grabbed the girl by the wrist and dragged her out into the corridor in front of other children. The Teaching Regulation Agency watchdog heard how she then failed to report the incident to superiors at the secondary school. Venables admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct capable of bringing the profession into disrepute. However, she was spared being struck off the teaching register after the panel ruled she had acted 'entirely out of character'. Venables claimed she was trying to hurry children out of the changing rooms so lessons could begin. Sports teacher Charlotte Venables (pictured) has been spared a classroom ban after she hauled a Year 8 girl across a changing room floor because she took 'too long to tie her shoelaces'  Venables pictured with fitness coach Joe Wicks. Venables grabbed the pupil by the ankle as she tried to get her out of the girls’ changing room at Stewards Academy in Harlow, Essex She said she had been left to lock up both PE changing rooms and had counted down from sixty seconds for pupils to leave. But when one girl, referred to as Child A, asked for an extra 20 seconds to finish tying her laces, Venables 'grabbed her trainer and pulled her to the floor'. Venables was suspended from duty when the girl's mother complained to the school saying her daughter had been manhandled 'while doing nothing more than fastening her shoe'. In evidence, the teacher accepted her behaviour had fallen far below the standards expected. Venables said: 'I recognise that I made an error in judgment in how I responded to the situation in September 2022. At the time of the initial investigation, I did not recall this action. 'When I was shown the CCTV footage during the disciplinary process, I immediately accepted that it was me and that my conduct was inappropriate. 'I deeply regret my actions, as they were not in line with the values I hold, nor the standards that were expected of me. 'Please know that my intention was never to cause harm or distress to the child. The Teaching Regulation Agency watchdog heard how Venables then failed to report the incident to superiors at the secondary school. She later admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct capable of bringing the profession into disrepute 'However, I fully understand that my approach was inappropriate, and I take responsibility for the negative impact it may have caused.' The Teaching Regulation Agency concluded that Venables had used inappropriate and excessive force against Child A and had failed to follow safeguarding rules. That amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and behaviour likely to bring the profession into disrepute. But despite the findings, Venables was spared a classroom ban over the incident. Panel chair Dr Martin Coles said: 'Ms Venables had demonstrated a serious lapse in judgement in respect of the way she removed Child A from a changing room. 'However, the panel was satisfied that it was a brief, isolated incident (lasting approximately 30 to 40 seconds), was entirely out of character, and was motivated by Ms Venables’ wish to remove an insubordinate child, who had already ignored a number of verbal instructions.' The panel ruled that publication of its adverse findings was a suitable punishment, adding that Venables had expressed genuine remorse. She was backed by a slew of character references detailing her 'tremendous work ethic'. Signing off the decision, civil servant Stuart Blomfield, on behalf of education secretary Bridget Phillipson, added: 'A prohibition order is not proportionate or in the public interest. 'I consider that the publication of the findings made would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable and that the publication would meet the public interest requirement of declaring proper standards of the profession.' 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