Headteacher who 'helped children cheat in Sats exams' banned from working in schools

Karen Parker handed out fast food to encourage primary school pupils to sit their tests, disciplinary panel finds

Karen Parker gave a child answers to mathematical questions to help him achieve a good grade (PA)

A headteacher has been banned from the profession after she gave inappropriate assistance to pupils with their Sats tests, a disciplinary panel said.

Karen Parker, a former headteacher of a school in Bedford, bought children a variety of fast food - KFC, McDonalds and Dominoes - to motivate them to sit their Sats exams.

She also told teachers that the school would close and they would lose their jobs if they did not secure good Sats results - and she called a staff meeting, during exams, by ringing the fire alarm.

Her actions led to the annulment of the school’s Year 6 Sats results in 2015, the panel said.

The 55-year-old was found guilty of unacceptable conduct after the panel concluded that she had brought the profession into “disrepute” during her time at Robert Bruce Middle School in Bedford.

During exams in 2015, Ms Parker, who had been head at the school since 2012, instructed staff to provide more assistance to pupils which was “permitted under normal exam conditions”.

Ms Parker gave a child answers to mathematical questions "to help him achieve a good grade" and she allowed another pupil to sit at least part of a mental mathematics test twice, the panel said.

In a statement, Ms Parker denied helping pupils to cheat during their Sats exams.

Alan Meyrick, who made the decision to ban her, said: “There was a lack of any demonstrable remorse over her actions as a large part of Ms Parker’s evidence concentrated on her personal concerns over management issues and other matters not covered by the wording of the allegations.

“In my judgement the lack of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this risks the future well-being of pupils.”

Ms Parker was prohibited from teaching indefinitely – but she may be able to apply for the ban to be lifted in two years’ time.