HEAD I LET PUPILS CHEAT

A HEAD TEACHER today admitted allowing some pupils to cheat in their Sats tests.

David Hopkins, head of Whiteknights Primary School in Reading, admitted three counts of unprofessional conduct in the administration of science and maths standard assessment tests.

Mr Hopkins appeared before the professional conduct committee of the General Teaching Council in Birmingham.

It is said he allowed an unknown number of Year Six children to change answers given during their maths test on 13 May last year.

He is accused of allowing some of the 10- and 11-year-olds more time than allocated to complete the science test and letting the pupils mix with others who had finished it. It is also said that Mr Hopkins did not keep the maths and science tests stored securely. The headteacher resigned last year after the scandal emerged.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority later annulled the results of Key Stage 2 maths and science Sats tests taken by 61 pupils.

Giving evidence, Mr Hopkins said there were pressures on him to meet targets and that he suffered a number of exceptional factors including building works at the school, senior staff off sick and no caretaker.

Mr Hopkins also said he suffered flashbacks from a road traffic accident in which he helped victims.

The former head, who now works as a teacher in Waverley School, Woking, said: "I never tried to hide my actions. The reason was so the children could achieve what I knew they were capable of."

The committee later adjourned to consider its decision.

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