A FORMER headteacher of Brookdale Primary School in Greasby has been banned from teaching after he falsified year six SATS papers.

Paul Prescott, 41, who was dismissed from the school amid the allegation, stood accused of making changes to completed Key Stage 2 Mental Maths SAT test scripts of one or more pupils at a teacher misconduct hearing in Coventry.

Mr Prescott was not present at the hearing and was not represented.

He denies the allegations.

The professional conduct panel heard evidence that Mr Prescott, who had been headteacher at the school from September 2012, had amended a small amount of papers following the mental maths exam for year six students in 2015.

The panel noted that as amendments were relatively small, they only resulted in a very small percentage increase in the school’s overall results for that year.

He also failed to ensure that the papers had not been left alone before they were packaged ready for marking.

Mr Prescott had been invigilating the exam in the school hall and took the completed papers into his office.

In a witness statement he said that he had sorted the papers into alphabetical order, sealed them in a plastic bag and then locked them in a cupboard in the office.

The papers were then collected by a delivery company according to the exam board schedule and sent to external examiners to be marked.

A few months later a forensic review took place of random papers from several schools by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), it was this review which found that amendments had been made to the school's papers after the exam ended.

The school undertook an investigation after these findings and Mr Prescott was subsequently dismissed.

All three witnesses at the hearing stated that staff generally got on well with Mr Prescott and that they did not see any evidence of unprofessionalism from staff towards him.

The panel concluded that Mr Prescott had ‘shown no insight or remorse into the impact of his actions upon the pupils who were affected’ or for the ‘impact of his behaviour upon the school.’

They also concluded that: “He sought to repeatedly place blame upon other members of staff at the School (and even the STA) for amending the papers by proposing scenarios that are fanciful, as there was no evidence that those people had the opportunity or motive to do so.

“This undermined those members of staff and damaged the reputation of the School.”

Mr Prescott stated in mitigation that he had inadequate formal training in relation to exam procedures.

On behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, Alan Meyrick said: “The panel has made a recommendation to the Secretary of State that Mr Prescott should be the subject of a prohibition order, with a no provision for a review period.

“In my judgement the lack of insight means that there is some considerable risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this risks future pupils’ examination results being annulled.

“I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.

“I have also considered the impact of a prohibition order on Mr Prescott himself.

“I have noted the panel’s comments ‘it understands that he previously had a good professional history and Witnesses A, B and C stated that he was a well-liked role model at the School before the maladministration.

“A prohibition order would prevent Mr Prescott from continuing his work as a headteacher and would also clearly deprive the public of his contribution to the profession for the period that it is in force.

“In this case I have placed considerable weight on the panel’s comments concerning the lack of insight or remorse.”

Mr Prescott has been banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

Mr Meyrick added: “Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Paul Prescott shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

“This order takes effect from the date on which it is served on the teacher.”