Derby teacher banned over coursework plagiarism

A teacher has been banned from the profession for submitting plagiarised exam coursework.

Louise Pearson was placed under investigation by Noel-Baker Academy in Derby after discrepancies were flagged by an exam board in 2019.

The investigation concluded Ms Pearson submitted coursework for two pupils based on the work of a former student.

A disciplinary panel has now found her guilty of misconduct and given her a prohibition order.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) heard Ms Pearson had been employed as a social sciences teacher by the school since 2007.

In June 2019, exam board OCR flagged potential malpractice in coursework submitted by two of her pupils as part of a module on child development.

The school investigated and found both pieces of coursework contained sections that were identical to work submitted by a pupil who left in 2018, except for date changes.

Both students were interviewed and said they had not seen the plagiarised work submitted in their name.

One said they had not completed the relevant section and the other said they had written about a different child.

The panel was told printing logs showed Ms Pearson had printed off the former pupil's work the previous month.

When asked what had happened during an interview with the school, Ms Pearson did not provide an explanation.

The 47-year-old also chose not to attend the TRA hearing.

After considering the evidence the panel found Ms Pearson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

It said: "The findings of misconduct are serious as they include a finding of which involved exam misconduct and dishonesty."

The prohibition order, which cannot be reviewed until at least September 2026, prevents Ms Pearson from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].