Bernard Aquilina
Introduction
Bernard Aquilina was a Teacher of Computer Science at Cove Secondary School in Farnborough. On 5 February 2024 he slapped a pupil across the face during a Computer Science lesson, and on 28 February 2024 he accepted a conditional caution for assaulting the pupil by beating. The school dismissed him and referred the matter to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), and a professional conduct panel found the allegations against him proved. On 15 September 2025, the decision maker Marc Cavey, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, imposed a prohibition order banning him from teaching indefinitely, with a four-year review period.
Background Information
Aquilina worked at Cove Secondary School between 1 September 2020 and 14 May 2024. The TRA referred the case to a professional conduct panel following the school’s referral on 22 May 2024, and the panel considered allegations set out in a notice of meeting dated 19 June 2025. The panel — chaired by Mr John Martin, with Mrs Jane Brothwood and Mrs Sharon Bhogal — met virtually on 11 September 2025. The TRA agreed to Aquilina’s request that the allegations be considered without a hearing; he provided a signed statement of agreed facts dated 1 May 2025 and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
A teacher slapping a pupil in class.
The panel considered allegations that Aquilina, whilst employed at Cove Secondary School, engaged in inappropriate contact with a pupil in that he hit the pupil on or around 5 February 2024, and that this conduct constituted a criminal offence for which he accepted a caution. The decision records that he approached the pupil’s desk and hit him on the face during a Computer Science lesson, and that on 28 February 2024 he accepted a conditional caution for assaulting the pupil by beating them contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The pupil told the panel:
“Pupil B got picked to answer as he wasn’t paying attention. I laughed because he was struggling. Mr Aquilina came over to me, clapping, saying “well done”. He then slapped me on the cheek”.
Another pupil present during the incident recounted:
“I saw Mr Aquilina approach Pupil A and state to him “if you’re being disrespectful, then I can too”. Pupil A replied “What have I done wrong I only laughed”… Mr Aquilina then slapped Pupil A with his open left hand on the left cheek. This was a hard slap and I could hear it loudly from where I was sat”.
Eight pupils provided written statements, which the panel considered largely consistent; although the case papers referenced CCTV footage, the panel itself saw only a staff member’s notes of it, which it was satisfied supported the pupils’ accounts. Finding Aquilina’s admissions unequivocal and consistent with the surrounding evidence, it found both allegations proven. It held that his conduct breached elements of the Teachers’ Standards, that the offence of violence was relevant, and that he “made inappropriate physical contact with a child, which the panel considered to be unacceptable and an entirely disproportionate response in the circumstances of the incident”. The conduct amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.
The panel found the misconduct deliberate: “Mr Aquilina chose to approach Pupil A and act with violence.” It found “no evidence that there was any provocation from Pupil A to justify Mr Aquilina acting in the way that he did”. As mitigating factors, it noted that Aquilina had “shown some remorse, albeit limited” during the school’s disciplinary proceedings, had accepted his wrongdoing by accepting the caution, and had been struggling with some significant personal and professional issues at the material time. The panel also recorded that “There was no evidence that Mr Aquilina made an exceptional contribution to teaching”, that it was “not persuaded that Mr Aquilina, at this time, no longer presents an ongoing risk and that his actions would not be repeated”, and that he had shown no insight into his behaviour.
Public Reaction and Consequences
The panel recommended that a prohibition order be imposed with immediate effect, with a four-year review period. It reasoned: “In light of the panel’s findings against Mr Aquilina which involved slapping a child and accepting a caution for such conduct, there was a strong public interest consideration in the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils.” The decision records no press coverage; the documented consequences came through disciplinary and regulatory channels — dismissal after a school hearing on 14 May 2024, then referral to the TRA. The decision maker concluded that a prohibition order was proportionate and in the public interest, placing considerable weight on the serious nature of the misconduct and the lack of evidence of full insight and consequent risk of repetition.
Current Status
Aquilina is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Under the four-year review period, he may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 20 September 2029 at the earliest — four years from the date of the order. This is not an automatic right: a panel will meet to consider any application, and without a successful one he remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely. Under the caution he must attend a victim awareness course; the caution will be spent on 28 February 2029. He has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days from the date he is given notice of the order.
Impact on Their Career/Life
The prohibition order ended Aquilina’s teaching career in England. The panel found no evidence of an exceptional contribution to teaching, but considered he could, potentially, make a positive contribution to education should he wish to return to the profession — subject to demonstrating to a future panel that he can be trusted to adhere to the profession’s standards and that there would be no risk of repetition. Until any such application succeeds, he remains barred from the classroom.