Teacher spared ban over cheating
Saturday 12th July 2008, 11:50AM BST.
A Shropshire deputy headteacher who brought her profession “into disrepute” by changing dozens of pupils’ test papers to boost her school’s results has escaped a teaching ban.
Anne Hebditch, who worked at St Mary’s Church of England School in Albrighton, near Telford, was instead given an official two-year reprimand.
It comes after a disciplinary hearing yesterday heard how she had changed answers and recorded inaccurate scores in the Year Three maths and reading SATs papers.
Ms Hebditch, who had taught at the school since 1987 but resigned in February 2007 before the claims of marking irregularities were fully investigated, had denied all the allegations.
She escaped being struck off after the hearing was told of the “stress and heavy workload” she faced.
A General Teaching Council for England (GTC) professional conduct committee ruled that she had of recorded inaccurate test results and altered pupils’ answers. An allegation that she completed unanswered questions was thrown out.
The official reprimand does not stop her teaching. She did not attend the Birmingham hearing yesterday and was not represented.
After the hearing, a Shropshire County Council spokesman said: “We support the decision of the GTC as it demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the highest professional standards in teaching.”
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