Teaching ban for head who defrauded school

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Disgraced former Ashford head teacher Robert Juniper – who used the school’s credit card for himself – has been banned from ever teaching again.

He was given a suspended jail sentence for the fraud which happened when he was in charge of Phoenix Community Primary School in Kennington.

Now, in a published report by the Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, the 58-year-old has been struck off – and told he cannot apply for re-instatement.

A disciplinary panel for the National College For Teaching ruled that Juniper’s fraud had been “relevant to teaching and working with children in an education setting”.

The Secretary for State’s report added: “In his position as head teacher, Mr Juniper was expected to safeguard, and not act against, the financial interests of the school.

“Mr Juniper dishonestly abused that position which involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards ... the seriousness of the offending behaviour that led to the conviction is relevant to Mr Juniper’s ongoing suitability to teach.”

The report’s author added: “I have considered the public interest in this case.

“I agree with the panel that the findings against Mr Juniper, which involved an offence of dishonestly involving school funds, could seriously weaken public confidence in the profession, should such conduct not be treated with the utmost seriousness.

“I note that the panel found that Mr Juniper has shown minimal insight into his actions and little remorse.

“This means that Robert Juniper is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

“Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Juniper shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”

Canterbury Crown Court had heard how Juniper, of Jubilee Field, Upchurch, near Sittingbourne, had helped himself to cash as a “free” loan.

Prosecutor Adam Wolstenholme said he had admitted “fraud by abuse of position” while working for Kent County Council at the school in Belmont Road, Kennington.

He said the cards were used illegally between January 2011 and April 2013 and the scam was only discovered when Juniper’s successor as head teacher Frances Nation queried accounts which had been officially audited.

Martin Khoshdel, for Juniper said he had been “stupid and naive” and has since repaid more than £4,200.

The judge, Recorder Mark Ockelton gave Juniper a 30-week jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to do 150 hours of community work.

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Robert Juniper, former head teacher of Phoenix Primary School