Lucy Coulson was instructed to act for the Teacher Regulation Agency as Presenting Officer in teaching misconduct proceedings. The case involved three school leaders alleged to have engaged in census maladministration (known as ‘off-rolling’) and exam malpractice.
The practice of ‘off-rolling’ is one where students are temporarily removed from the register prior to census. As a result, the removed students’ achievements do not count towards the school’s performance data.
The Executive Headteacher was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct in that he had sufficient knowledge that off-rolling was taking place in the school between 2015-2016 but that he ‘turned a blind eye’ to the practice. The practice was described by the panel as ‘unethical and pernicious’. His conduct was found to have lacked integrity.
Additional findings of unacceptable professional conduct were made against the Head of School and Assistant Headteacher in relation to off-rolling and exam malpractice, together with findings of dishonesty.
Lucy Coulson was instructed by Browne Jacobson on behalf of the TRA.
Further details can be found in Devonlive and Schoolsweek.
Lucy Coulson is a member of the Civil and Personal Injury Department at 18 St John Street Chambers. For more information, please click the links above or contact a member of the civil clerking team on 0161 278 8261 or via email civil@18sjs.com
