Teacher 'powerless' after fake gun held to her head

The terrified teacher described how she froze when the three inch gun was aimed at her in the middle of a lesson.

However she revealed she felt powerless to act, not knowing if the law would not protect her if she disarmed him by force.

She only realised the gun was a toy when the boy handed it over after being challenged by a classroom assistant.

Police were called to the school and the boy, who cannot be named, was suspended for three days and given an informal caution and the gun was destroyed.

The teacher at Mereway Community College, in Northampton, who does not wish to be named, said she had been "absolutely terrified" during the incident.

She said: "Where would I stand legally if I attacked the child and tried to take the gun from him by force?

"But then, of course, I'm then not only responsible for my own safety, but for the safety of the other pupils in the class as well.

"I found myself in a very difficult situation so I froze. And when I took it from him, I still didn't know it wasn't a real gun because it was heavy.

"Within the light of the Virginia massacre, you know, it's very kind of worrying."

Her headteacher, Mark Griffin said: "I have enormous sympathy with the teacher involved in this extremely unusual incident.

"We take the issue of aggression of any sort very seriously and we will do everything in our power when dealing with any such incidents.

"All schools have to remain constantly vigilant these days but I am confident that this incident represents a very stupid prank by a young child."

He added: "We feel our response reflects the serious nature of this incident and the distress it caused to the teacher involved.

"The school has been fully supported by the parents of the student involved."

The National Union of Teachers said the law allowed staff to restrain any pupil endangering themselves, other pupils or teachers.

The father of the boy told the Daily Mail that both the school and the teacher had "massively over-reacted."

The company director, said the gun had been bought a few days before Tuesday's incident and was clearly a toy.

He said: "Growing up in the 1960s we used to play cowboys and indians. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. What I do know is that it won't happen again.

"My son will be back at school next week and I've asked that the teacher will not be having any contact with him.

He added: "I have had a gun pointed at me three times in my life, the worst being when I stared down the barrel of a Kalashnikov in Baghdad in 1990, so I know what it is like and having a three-inch toy being thrust at you in a classroom is not the same.

"He bought the metal gun at the British Superbikes at Silverstone at the weekend. Like a fool, he took it into school and pointed it at the teacher.

"There's no excuse, he's in the wrong, we know that. I told him at the time he had wasted his money but what can you do?"

A police spokesman said officers had given the boy "strong words of advice".

He added: "We would advise people, wherever they are, not to carry these around in public places. They can cause fear and distress and unnecessary alarm."