A SCHOOL nurse was sacked from her job after allegations she locked up her own children and beat them with a wooden spoon.

Susan Pope was dismissed from her job as senior nurse at the privately-run Malvern St James school after her adopted children were placed on the child protection register by social services.

Mrs Pope has taken her case to an employment tribunal over claims of unfair dismissal.

Yesterday the former bursar of the school Denis Smith told the tribunal he questioned Mrs Pope's ability to care for young girls after her children were placed on the child protection register.

Mr Smith was in charge of conducting disciplinary action against Mrs Pope, after she was suspended by the headteacher.

He told the tribunal in Birmingham that Mrs Pope's judgement on how children should be treated had been brought into question and there was a serious risk to the school's reputation.

"How could any school in this country employ anybody in a position of trust when their own children were on an at risk register for being physically and mentally abused?" said Mr Smith.

Last year Mrs Pope, of Albion Road, Malvern, was questioned by police over an allegation she smacked her adopted son.

Details of the alleged abuse were read out during yesterday's tribunal and included the three adopted children being locked in their rooms over the weekend; locks being fitted on their bedroom windows and on the outside of their bedroom doors; being hit with a wooden spoon and having the plug of their television taken away.

Mrs Pope, who had an unblemished employment record, was initially suspended from her £33,000 a year job and later in 2007 was sacked.

When asked if the discipline of children was a private matter, Mr Smith replied: "No, not if it results in one of the children going to the police to say that he and his siblings are being abused."

The former bursar admitted he had resigned from his job in April 2008 after being convicted of drink driving and charged with failing to stop after an accident and dangerous driving.

"My belief was the reputation of the school would be affected by this," he said.

On the first day of the tribunal, school headteacher Rosalind Hayes said she had initially been supportive towards the school nurse after being informed of the situation by social services.

Later she said: "My conclusion was that her children having been placed on the child protection register, there was a risk of harm to her children and the children in my care."

The case continues.