A SCHOOL secretary who was found guilty of hitting a pupil has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Jane Farmer, who had denied assaulting a boy at Arnewood School in the New Forest, was sentenced at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard how Farmer, 57, of Brook Avenue, New Milton, was of previous good character but had smacked the young boy.

Ryan Seneviratne, prosecutor, said: “The defendant was found guilty on the basis that voices were raised and witnesses heard the sound of a smack.”

He told the court the incident happened on January 22 this year.

Mr Seneviratne said the victim was being disruptive, was disturbing other pupils and was asked to move from one room to another.

“Mrs Farmer slapped him on his upper right arm and he left,” Mr Seneviratne said.

“A young man should have been able to be in school and not suffer an assault by anyone,”he added.

The court heard how the victim did not suffer any lasting injury but the incident was aggravated by the fact that it happened in the school and was witnessed by other people.

Charles Cochand, defending, told the court Farmer’s behaviour was unusual and said she was trusted by other employees.

“She was not angry, distressed or upset when the incident happened. She always accepted there was contact but said [the victim] was not stable on his feet,” he added.

Mr Cochand said the incident has had a “considerable impact” on Farmer’s life.

“She has lost her job, she no longer works in a school environment and with children. She’s unable to work in a field where she has been comfortable and worked for many years,” Mr Cochand said.

Farmer’s former line manager, Janet White, told the court Farmer had always been empathetic.

“Jane always made it very important to other invigilators to look after students,”she added.

Lead magistrate David Howells said magistrates felt there was no lasting injury and compensation to the victim was not appropriate.

Sentencing, he added: “We are particularly aware of your previous good character. This was out of character and we do take that into account.”

Farmer was told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £620 prosecution cost and an £85 victim surcharge.

A statement from Arnewood School said: "“The Arnewood School takes the welfare of its students very seriously and has strict safeguarding policies in place that all staff must follow.

“As soon as this incident was brought to the school leadership’s attention Mrs Farmer was formally suspended pending an internal investigation and disciplinary hearing.

“On February 7, 2018 Mrs Farmer attended a disciplinary hearing. A panel of three members, with an additional independent HR consultant, unanimously agreed that a final written warning was a suitable punishment for what was a one-off incident in an otherwise 12-year unblemished record at Arnewood.

“The school also assessed there was a very low risk of a recurrence of the incident.

“Mrs Farmer returned to work on the condition she undertook further safeguarding training, which she completed.

“Subsequently, the police received requests from the student’s family to look at the matter again, and a police investigation opened.

“The school was informed on May 4, 2018 that Mrs Farmer was facing criminal charges and she was suspended to allow legal proceedings to reach their conclusion.

“We can confirm that Jayne Farmer resigned from her position at the school following her conviction and we have referred the outcome of the case to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

“In this matter, the school has followed the appropriate procedures and has assisted police with their enquiries, as required.”