Teacher ‘drowning in work’ falsified pupil exam results

● Discrepancies over evidence led to investigation

A teacher falsified exam results for more than 50 students because she was “drowning in work”, a disciplinary hearing was told.

Caroline Grieve created false National 5 English results for a total of 54 pupils – half of the students she was teaching at the time.

Ms Grieve, who taught English at Dumfries High, was disorganised and lacked rigour in keeping records of pupils’ work. A hearing of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) heard evidence that she altered results so that pupils were not punished as a result of her “mess”.

The 30-year-old admits that in January 2015 she passed students’ exam coursework when it was a fail or the evidence was incomplete. But she denies she was dishonest or untrustworthy in doing so.

The problem was discovered shortly after a new principal teacher of English, Claire Harrison, arrived at the school in January 2015. She felt procedures relating to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) exams were “very ad hoc”.

She told the hearing: “Caro- line had been open that she struggled with time management and organisation.

“I went to Caroline for evidence [of pupils’ work] and I took it home and it looked like there were a lot of discrepancies, there were some bits of evidence missing.

“I went back to her and asked for the missing evidence and she looked panicked. There was a lack of rigour and she struggled more than others on the team.”

Miss Grieve was suspended from her post in September 2015 during Dumfries and Galloway Council’s investigation. She returned to work in January 2016 and apologised to colleagues.

Ms Harrison, told the hear- ing: “She has gone in every way the extra mile to improve.”

Giving evidence, Ms Grieve said: “I felt like I was drowning in my workload. I had forgotten about inputting the marks completely. Staff were sent an e-mail reminding them to input the data.

“As a result of the health issues I was suffering at the time I can’t recall in detail when the e-mail was sent but it was close to the deadline. I hadn’t put in place any planning to make the time.”

She added: “I genuinely believed I had the evidence.”

The GTCS panel now must decide if Ms Grieve is unfit to teach. If they reach that decision she could be struck off.

The hearing continues.