A former Shropshire teacher has been cleared of allegations questioning his professional competence, it was revealed today.

A committee for the General Council for Teachers investigated claims against Mark Gorton, a former ICT teacher at Oldbury Wells School in Bridgnorth.

It ruled there was no proof to substantiate the allegation that during his time at the school, from December 2003 to August 2007, he failed to improve his performance.

The allegation has now been dropped.

The Star was unable to contact Mr Gorton today and a spokesman for Oldbury Wells School said it did not wish to comment.

Areas singled out for scrutiny included pace and purpose of lessons, lesson planning and structure, monitoring and assessment, differentiation; classroom management and pupil achievement.

Different

A report for the GTC said: “We find ourselves unable to rely upon the lesson observation sheets and interview notes, which predates the arrival of Sarah Godden as headteacher at Oldbury Wells School in September 2006.”

The findings revealed most of the documents were unsigned and some appeared to be prepared by different members of staff.

Lesson observation notes were described as mainly non-specific and not relating to the particular areas covered by the allegation.

“For all these reasons we feel unable to attach any probative weight to them,” the report continued.

But in evidence Mr Gorton told the committee exam results were greatly improved in 2006 and he had “reversed the decline”.

The report for the proceedings stated: “There was no evidence presented to us which suggested this may be incorrect.”

The school’s assistant he- adteacher Glyn Mark said: “It is not the school’s or the local authority’s policy to co- mment on individual cases.”

By Catherine Roche