A former Ipswich headteacher has been accused of "pupil imprisonment" after installing locks on doors to "calming rooms" for pupils with learning difficulties.

A teacher misconduct hearing began this week after concerns were raised about Odran Doran and Simon Black's leadership at The Bridge School in Ipswich. 

In 2017, safeguarding concerns related to the use of a classroom locking system were raised by Ofsted officers towards the pair after the school’s “good” rating slid to “inadequate” amid further staff suspensions.   Ipswich Star: Odran Doran, who was headteacher at The Bridge School for around 20 years, has been suspended since October 2017, Gregg BrownOdran Doran, who was headteacher at The Bridge School for around 20 years, has been suspended since October 2017, Gregg Brown (Image: Gregg Brown)

The Bridge School, which caters for around 150 pupils with learning difficulties, had a number of calming rooms that, at the time of inspection, were provided with door locks. 

Jemma Lynch, education strategic safeguarding officer at Suffolk County Council, told the hearing on Thursday, November 23, that the calming rooms at the school were "a cold place". 

The rooms were very empty and plain, one having only a table and an old bean bag, she said, adding that, in her opinion, the rooms “were not calming” and “did not seem overly safe”. 

Ipswich Star: The Bridge School in Sprites Lane, Ipswich, has seen major changes since safeguarding concerns were raised in October 2017, Gregg BrownThe Bridge School in Sprites Lane, Ipswich, has seen major changes since safeguarding concerns were raised in October 2017, Gregg Brown (Image: Gregg Brown)

In 2017, the officer asked Mr Black to remove the locks from the doors in the rooms but did not give a deadline for the school to do so. 

Ms Lynch added she was not sure if the parents were aware of the use of those rooms, which she claimed, were more aimed at staff safety than students. 

She said: “I was clear that the locks from rooms needed to be removed.” 

The witness added that the visibility inside the calming rooms where the young people were placed was not good enough for staff to be able to supervise them at all time. 

After raising her concerns, Ms Lynch was informed by Mr Black that “some locks had been removed”. 

The case was followed by a mass staff suspension worth more than £1 million of taxpayers' money, including the removal of long-serving former headteacher Mr Doran.

The hearing was adjourned until February 2024.