We must register all teacher misconduct

Few directors, principals or head teachers can survive a bad inspection or poor performance statistics, and so there are huge incentives to improve outcomes.

In many ways, that is exactly right – we are entitled to expect that senior leaders are single-mindedly addressing service improvement, and that they are held to account for their performance.

But sometimes this desire to improve goes too far. For example, school admissions and exclusions can be manipulated to the benefit of the institution rather than the child. It is easier to achieve good results in a school, for example, if potentially difficult children are never admitted, or if they are permanently excluded. Far too many children and young people are excluded from educational opportunity, often being out of school for lengthy periods or being placed in alternative provision that does not meet their needs.

That is wrong and must be challenged wherever it happens. Occasionally, professionals step outside the bounds of the almost acceptable, deep into the realm of the unlawful and improper.

In 2001, I met Maureen Brennan, the new head teacher at Hillcrest School in Dudley, where I was the new director. Over several years, she turned the school around, to the extent that she was made a Dame in 2005 for services to education. She said she took a “common-sense approach” to improving the school.

Unfortunately, among the common-sense measures she adopted were dishonestly changing attendance records, which initially came to light on my watch in 2007. It has taken five years, but a Teaching Agency professional conduct panel has now ruled that improper changes were made to registers between 2004 and 2007. The panel said: “The misconduct is of a serious nature, falling significantly short of the standards of behaviour required of a teacher.” For the record, she denies the allegations and the panel will hear mitigation before a decision on action is made.

But had the local authority not been willing and able to deal with this abuse, it could still be taking place. So who will be there to hold “independent” academies to account? Just don’t say it couldn’t happen.

John Freeman CBE is a former director of children’s services and is now a freelance consultant.

Read his blog at cypnow.co.uk/freemansthinking