Friday 13 May 2022 04:50 PM Cheating headteacher is struck off for telling staff to fiddle school's ... trends now
A cheating headteacher has been struck off for telling staff to fiddle his school's attendance figures and hide more than 25,000 absences by pupils.
Peter Spencer, 52, ordered staff to log missing pupils as present when they were not in classes after an inspection had called for improved attendance.
A hearing was told his deception went on for five years at Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen, South Wales, before it was reported by a whistle-blower.
More than 28,000 pupil absences at the school were changed to showing as present between 2014 and 2019, an Education Workforce Council panel heard.
Peter Spencer, 52, ordered staff to log missing pupils as present when they were not in classes after an inspection had called for improved attendance
Mr Spencer, who left the 1,500-pupil school with a pay-off two years ago after nine years in post, told members of staff to falsify attendance data.
The hearing was told schools get more funding and rank better on national performance measures based on higher attendance.
Luke Lambourne, presenting officer, said one member of staff was drawn into the head's 'web of deceit' out of misguided loyalty while others felt 'under pressure' to join in the deception.
One senior member of staff told the committee he was among those asked by the headteacher to alter codes 'n' for not present and 'i' for ill to a symbol showing those pupils as present.
The unnamed staff member gave evidence to say he 'had felt anxious the whole time'.
He told the panel he was asked by Mr Spencer to make 'illegitimate amendments' to attendance data to 'show the school in a good light' and that this 'dishonest
