A GEOGRAPHY teacher suspended for allegedly striking a 14-year-old boy pupil is refusing to return to school after the summer holiday unless he receives an assurance he will not have to teach the boy again.

And he says he will call on his union to back his demand if he is threatened with further action.

Ian Ashmore, 45, from Westhoughton, who has taught at Bedford High School, Leigh, for 23 years, was suspended following the allegation in May. But the case was dropped after an independent investigation by education chiefs at Wigan.

Mr Ashmore, who has remained off school on sick leave, says he has still not received confirmation from the school that he will not have to teach the boy again.

He said: "I was told at the hearing on June 6, that the case against me had been dropped and that I would receive a letter to that effect. I still had not received anything by June 10 and phoned Wigan. Only then was a letter sent round to me telling me the inquiry was over and my suspension at an end. But I have not received a letter saying I will not be obliged to teach this same boy again, and I am unwilling to return until I receive that assurance.

"I will be asking for the backing of my union if I don't receive this assurance. I would be putting myself in a dangerous environment if I was forced to return as if nothing had happened."

Mr Ashmore said the incident leading up to his suspension happened in May when he decided to exclude the pupil who was being disruptive.

He claimed the boy told headteacher Barry Mell, that he had been struck, but a school inquiry and an investigation by the local authority found no evidence to support the allegation and Mr Mell apologised for any stress caused.

Barry Mell said: "A letter was posted to Mr Ashmore on June 9 confirming the outcome of the inquiry and he later had one hand delivered. I would hope he could come back to Bedford High School as soon as possible to discuss the situation properly and until that time I cannot comment any further."

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