Teacher cleared of exam scam (From Watford Observer)

Teacher cleared of exam scam

1:40pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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A former teacher at a Garston school has been cleared of attempting to cheat the exam system.

John Brawn, the former director of curriculum at Francis Combe School, was reprimanded by the General Teaching Council for failing to spot a proven scam at the school but cleared of any willing participation in it.

Mr Brawn was implicated in a disciplinary case involving former teacher Dean Thomas-Hay, who admitted in November last year to artificially boosting his students’ marks.

He was sacked from the school and disciplined by the GTC for tampering with the work of students completing a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) qualification.

Another teacher was also sacked for involvement in the scam.

Mr Brawn had been accused of instigating the cheating.

A GTC disciplinary committee, however, found no evidence of this but did issue a formal reprimand in recognition of his failure to prevent or report the scam when concerns were raised.

Mr Brawn, the committee ruled, was an extremely busy teacher of previous good character.

The committee’s report read: “Without condoning Mr Brawn’s conduct, we have taken into account the fact that he had an extensive portfolio of responsibility, which limited the time available to him to monitor the work of pupils and the professional activities of colleagues.”