Hertfordshire teacher allowed to work after faking student coursework

An "outstanding" teacher who submitted coursework to an exams board that was not created by his pupils can continue to work in the profession.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) report said Hailey Hall School pupils lost their coursework after John Gregory failed to tell them how to save their work locally.

He then submitted faked work on behalf of the Hoddesdon pupils.

TRA said he showed remorse and banning him would "deprive" the profession.

A report, signed by TRA chief executive Marc Carvey on behalf of education secretary Gillian Keegan, found the Hertfordshire teacher's actions were "dishonest" and "demonstrated a lack of integrity".

The teacher admitted the misconduct to the headteacher at the earliest opportunity and complied with investigations.

Mr Gregory was not prohibited from a career in teaching as he had demonstrated "a level of insight into his wrongdoing and some remorse".

The report said: "The panel were mindful that Mr Gregory found himself in a situation where he felt a heightened sense of panic."

The panel also considered that Mr Gregory, who became a qualified teacher in March 2022, had not been provided with the level of mentoring that would be expected for a newly qualified teacher.

Mr Gregory was described in the report as an otherwise "outstanding teacher, and that this behaviour was out of character".

Mr Carvey concluded that publishing the TRA's conclusion "would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable".

He wrote: "A prohibition order would … clearly deprive the public of his contribution to the profession."

Mr Gregory resigned from the school in 2022.

A Hailey Hall School spokesperson said they were aware of the report.

They said: "We expect our staff to meet high standards of professional integrity and we were extremely disappointed to find that an otherwise good teacher was behaving in this way.

"Our priority has been to support the young people affected by this and the tribunal's findings will hopefully help us all draw a line under this unfortunate situation."

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