A Canterbury primary teacher who mocked children with learning disabilities, destroyed their work, and swore in front of pupils has been permanently banned from teaching.
Wendy Maree Hopwood, who worked at Tinwald School in Ashburton for nearly a decade, was this week deregistered by the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal after being found guilty of serious misconduct.
Mocked and Humiliated Pupils
Between 2019 and 2021, Hopwood repeatedly targeted vulnerable students, calling them names such as “crybaby”, “dummy” and “thick”. In one case, she told a young boy he didn’t “have the balls” to look at her after misplacing a pencil.
She made fun of pupils’ reading and writing abilities in front of their classmates. One student later told investigators he hated Hopwood and hated going to school.
Students also described her frequently using profanity in the classroom and giving them the middle finger.
Artwork Ripped Up, Learning Support Denied
Hopwood was known to rip up children’s artwork and tear pages from their workbooks if she believed they’d made a mistake, often discarding the pieces in front of the class. One student said they went home and cried after their work was destroyed.
According to the decision, Hopwood sometimes prevented teacher aides from assisting children with additional needs. “You’re not working with them today, because they just sit there and wait for you to do it for them,” she was reported as saying.
The tribunal said she created a classroom environment where students were afraid to participate, fearing ridicule.
Hopwood Admitted Behaviour but Claimed It Wasn’t Malicious
Hopwood resigned from Tinwald School in December 2021 and worked briefly as a relief teacher. Complaints from teacher aides and students led to a Teaching Council investigation in 2022.
At a disciplinary hearing in March 2025, she admitted the charges but claimed that swearing was never directed at children and that tearing up students’ work was standard classroom practice.
Medical evidence was submitted in support of her case, but the details remain suppressed.
Registration Cancelled, Costs Ordered
The tribunal concluded Hopwood’s behaviour showed “a total lack of regard for the students’ emotional wellbeing” and “a clear disregard for the wellbeing of students and for specific learning needs.”
It found she had never apologised to students, families or colleagues, and that the conduct represented a pattern of inappropriate behaviour over an extended period.
Hopwood’s registration was cancelled, and she was ordered to pay $4000 in legal costs. Her most recent practising certificate expired in September 2024 and has not been renewed.
Tinwald School Responds
In a statement, Tinwald School confirmed it had reported the teacher’s conduct in 2021 and supported the tribunal’s decision.
“We have contacted those families affected by the misconduct of this teacher, as well as the wider Tinwald School community, to provide transparency and support,” a spokesperson said.
“This teacher was no longer employed by Tinwald School at the time of these reports. We continue to ensure our staff and students feel safe, respected, and supported.”
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