A SCHOOL secretary has been found guilty of hitting a pupil.

Jane Farmer, had denied assaulting the boy at the Arnewood School in the New Forest but was found guilty after a trial.

Southampton Magistrates Court heard how Farmer, 57, stepped in to help the student move from one room to another on January 22 this year.

Alison Collier, a school staff member, giving evidence, said she saw Farmer raising her arm and hit the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on his upper arm.

She added: “It was not a fist, it was not ‘I’m getting angry with this child, I’ve lost control’, but it was a slap. It sounded like a slap. They were on the doorway. I was a bit staggered – I could not believe what I saw. It was all a bit surreal for me. He said ‘I’m not staying here, she hit me'.”

Alison Zebede, giving evidence, told the court she was 15 feet away from Farmer and the victim and said she heard a smack.

Ms Zebede, who also works at the school, added: “It was a clear smacking sound to me. The sound of somebody being hit on a bare skin.”

She told the court she followed the victim and brought him in to another room.

But Farmer told the court the victim was “moving slowly towards her” when she was in the room and “had his back towards her”.

She added: “There was a chair by the door. I’m pretty sure I said stop, stop and he didn’t do that so I instinctively put my arm up to stop him. He was getting quite close to the doorway and he was still not turning around.”

Liam Hunter, prosecutor, said: “The fact is she did strike [the victim] on his arm.”

Charles Cochand, defence, described Farmer as a "trusted and much-loved" member of staff, experienced in dealing with children.

Farmer, of Brook Avenue, New Milton, was released on unconditional bail. She is due to be sentenced at Southampton Magistrates Court on September 25.