A FORMER head of English at Chepstow School put the education of students in “serious jeopardy,” a competency hearing was told.

Kathryn Currie, who appeared at a General Teaching Council for Wales hearing in Cardiff earlier today, was the head of English at Chepstow School between 1990 and 2013.

Currie, who first started teaching at the school in 1986, faces a total of 14 allegations relating to the overall charge of professional incompetence between October 2012 and September 2013. She denies all the allegations.

They allegations include: l Failing to ensure that data trackers were used effectively.

l Failing to implement a robust system for moderation, standardisation and/or monitoring progress.

l Failing to evaluate pupil progress and outcomes at key stages three, four and five.

l Failing to carry out all lesson observations for members of the English department.

l Failing to fulfil the basic role of a curriculum leader.

Claire Price, head teacher of Chepstow School, giving evidence today, said there was a “pattern of embedded under-achievement” in the school’s English results from 2008 to 2013.

She said the school was above the Welsh average, but was under-achieving in its family cluster which is made up of similar schools.

An Estyn inspection from 2012 criticised the standard of English and maths at the school. Four of the report’s seven recommendations were concerned with the standards of English.

Miss Price said Currie had predicted GCSE grades which were overestimated by 28 per cent better than what was achieved.

Miss Price told the hearing that they were concerned with coursework deadlines while Currie was off work on sickness leave. She said they learnt that Currie had already submitted plagiarised coursework to examiners. Miss Price said she didn’t take further action against Currie as the examining body WJEC had dealt with the issue.

Miss Price said: “By this point, my main concern was that the education of students was in serious jeopardy.”

Gareth Davies, of NASUWT, representing Currie, accused Miss Price of being “hell bent” on dismissing Currie.

Miss Price denied this. She said staff had been put in place to support Currie.

Miss Price said standardising of GCSE coursework was not conducted properly.

She told the hearing that C-grade pupils received Ds, affecting their access to A-level courses and employement grades.

She said: “This had enormous implications some pupils would not have access to A level courses and some might not be able to get a job.”

The hearing was told that Monmouthshire council agreed on a settlement with Currie before an employment tribunal was due to take place.

Miss Price said that it was her understanding the council made a business decision to settle as it would be "cheaper". Currie, giving evidence yesterday, said MissClaire Price played the role of “accuser, jury, judge and executioner” in her role as head teacher in the capability process.

Currie said prior to 2012 the school had seen a gradual reduction in English specialist staff.

Currie said she was "shocked" to find herself in the capability process. The eight week process included three targets assigned to Currie to improve standards.

She said she didn’t feel supported and felt the whole process was setting her up to fail.

She said: “I was conveniently used as a scapegoat, sacrificed to prove to returning inspectors the rigorous monitoring of middle management.”

She said prior to Miss Price becoming head teacher in January 2012, no-one had raised concerns about her performance as a teacher or curriculum leader. She said: “She did everything in her power to get rid of me. She manipulated staff to blacken my name.”

Currie is currently working as the second in charge in the English department at Llantarnam School. She said Currie said a blog with 40 messages had been posted in support of her, along with a petition supporting her which gained 1,000 signatures in 48 hours.

Proceeding.