Head Teacher appointed Husband as consultant on Governing Body

THE former headteacher of a primary school who appointed her husband to the governing body, made unauthorised payments to him and claimed further unauthorised expenses for a trip to Sri Lanka, has been banned from teaching.

The General Teaching Council (GTC) found Gillian Smyth guilty of unacceptable professional conduct while headteacher at Colham Manor Primary School, in Yiewsley, between November 2003 and March 31 last year.

It banned her for at least two years.

GTC Committee chairman, Derek Johns, said that the appointment of Mrs Smyth's husband, Peter, to the governing body in a consulting role 'required a very clear audit trail as to his appointment', and added that she had a responsibility to make sure that the correct procedures were carried out and the governors advised accordingly.

He said the evidence was that there was no note of the appointment, no terms and conditions of employment, and sparse minutes of the governing body as to the appointment.

Mr Johns added there was evidence that three payments were made to Mr Smyth before his appointment on November 5, 2007, and a further £5,200 payment made to him afterwards, which was 'in breach of the delegation authority of Mrs Smyth'.

He continued: "We are satisfied that Mrs Smyth failed to declare on the register of interest that Mr Smyth was her husband.

Mrs Smyth, as the lead professional, should have been aware of the need to protect the public interest."

As well as making unauthorised claims for expenses for a trip to Sri Lanka, he said, she also falsified documents, declared incorrect financial figures to Hillingdon Council and authorised payments to builders and their sub-contractors that were 'not in line with procedures', and allowed the consequent false reclamation of VAT refunds.

She also made 'irregular' changes to documents, changing one female member of staff's contract from part-time to full-time just before her maternity leave. Another had her contract changed without the consent of, and against the wishes of, school governors.

Mr Johns said Mrs Smyth also granted an unauthorised loan of £300 to a member of staff, and failed to check that repayments were made.

"The facts we have found proved are a substantial departure from the standards expected of the profession," he said in a statement.

"We have concluded that Mrs Smyth has no insight into her behaviour.

"This is not a case of an isolated incident but conduct that has taken place over a number of years. This is a case where Mrs Smyth has expressed no remorse."

Chris Spencer, corporate director of education and children's services, said: "Hillingdon Council terminated the headteacher's contract of employment for gross mis-conduct with effect from March 31, 2009.

"The temporary headteacher arrangements that have been working successfully in the school since last summer remain in place.

"We are pleased the GTC supports the council in recognising the seriousness of this case."

Story from Uxbridge Gazette

http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-news/local-uxbridge-news/2010/12/08/head-banned-from-teaching-for-professional-misconduct-113046-27784774/