Teacher forged signatures to obtain qualification
Richard Watson worked as a teacher at Branton St Wilfrid’s CofE Primary in Doncaster
- Published
A teacher forged signatures and plagiarised someone else's documents to obtain a senior leadership qualification, a misconduct hearing has been told.
Richard Watson also falsified his colleagues' comments and provided a description of a project he claimed he had undertaken but had not.
The 37-year-old was subsequently dismissed from his role at Branton St Wilfrid’s CofE Primary in Doncaster in July 2022.
This month, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found Mr Watson guilty of misconduct and he was banned from teaching indefinitely.
The panel was told Mr Watson's misconduct related to his submission to organisation Learners First for the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL).
During the hearing, which Mr Watson did not attend, it was accepted he had falsified signatures and comments on the form.
One witness told the panel a project described in Mr Watson's submission was dotted with inaccuracies.
This included an incorrect statement from the school’s 2019 Ofsted report and numerous references to data which was not a true reflection of the school’s position or progress.
'Ill-fated decision'
In a written statement to the TRA, Mr Watson stated that due to the impact that his personal life had had on him, he had made “an absolutely ill-fated decision".
He said he was "exceptionally regretful", adding: “I did plagiarise someone’s NPQSL document, including the sponsor statement, and signed the forms off.”
The panel found all allegations against Mr Watson proven and said his actions had been dishonest and lacked integrity.
He was banned from the profession indefinitely with a review period of two years.
It is understood the Department for Education is in the process of withdrawing Mr Watson's NPQSL.
The BBC has approached the school for comment.
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