Head lied about investigating complaint and falsifying fire drill records

A FORMER primary headteacher has admitted to lying about adequately investigating a parent’s complaint about a teacher prodding a pupil, as well as falsifying fire drill records, blaming the pressures of an Ofsted inspection.

Catherine Lloyd, who was the head of Knottingley St Botolph’s C of E Academy from September 2014 to September 2016, went before a National College for Teaching and Leadership panel.

Members were shown a note that Mrs Lloyd made following the initial referral from the parent on May 3, 2016, and the note of her conversation with the pupil on May 6, 2016. However, they heard that she did not then speak with the teacher concerned until three weeks later. Mrs Lloyd admitted to falsifying the date on the note, implying that the meeting had taken place at an earlier date.

The panel also saw copies of a text message that Mrs Lloyd sent to the school’s business manager during an Ofsted inspection, in which she asked them to create records of fire drills that had not taken place.

Following an internal disciplinary investigation and hearing, Mrs Lloyd was dismissed from the school.

The panel found Mrs Lloyd guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. However the panel accepted that although her actions were deliberate, they were in response to a “great deal of pressure” that she felt during her first Ofsted inspection as a headteacher.

They also considered her previous good teaching record and recommended that she should not be given a prohibition order – a decision the Education Secretary’s representative accepted.