Ban for principal who ignored sex abuse claims

The former head of a school where a teacher sexually abused pupils has been banned from teaching.

Chris Hood, 55, was dismissed from Hillside First School in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset after Nigel Leat’s crimes were exposed.

A professional conduct panel had found Mr Hood had failed to raise concerns about Leat’s increasingly sexual behaviour and did not support staff in raising concerns. Education Secretary Michael Gove has now approved the decision to ban Mr Hood from teaching in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Leat was jailed indefinitely in 2011 after admitting 36 sexual offences.