A MUSIC teacher who admitted falsifying pupils’ books before an inspection was guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct”, a tribunal found yesterday.

Lyndon Powell taught at Oakdale Comprehensive School until April 2014 after it was discovered he put different names on six Year Seven pupils’ workbooks that were to be inspected.

Former paramedic Mr Powell also admitted changing dates on workbooks, to resubmit pupils’ work from the year before.

Yesterday in Cardiff, the Education Workforce Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee found him guilty of deliberately falsifying pupils’ books, acting dishonestly and engaging in “unacceptable professional conduct”.

Mr Powell told the hearing he was under stress which caused an error of judgement during the academic year 2013 to 2014.

The panel heard how the books he changed were to be submitted to both an internal inspection and also to the Education Achievement Service which would then be provided to Estyn.

Chair Richard Parry Jones said: “It's a serious matter which had the potential to undermine the credibility of the school and damage trust in the profession.”

Yvette Watkins, a learning coach at the school, said the issue was first raised when two Year Seven pupils told her the books with their names on did not contain their work.

Ms Watkins told the committee: “They told me it was not their handwriting inside. I could see their names had been written on sticky labels.

“When I opened the books I saw there were different names inside. The pupils were shocked and clearly very confused.”

An investigation by Emma Paskell, school business manager, found Mr Powell had used workbooks from previous year’s pupils. Powell, who qualified as a teacher in 2009 when he started at Oakdale, claimed he was suffering from stress which caused a lapse in judgement during the 2013/14 academic year.

Mr Powell said: “It was both foolish and stupid of me which was totally out of character. I’m deeply remorseful for my actions and wish now I had not been too proud to seek help. The events are etched in my memory forever.”

Carys Williams, representing him, said: “Mr Powell was the sole music teacher, effectively running a whole department, and involved in a number of extra curricular activities.”

She suggested it was a case where Mr Powell had “spread himself too thinly”.

Headteacher Mr Chris David accepted Powell was a “one man band”, but added the school has a “robust and sound system” and open door policy to discuss any pressures.

Mr Powell claimed he mentioned concerns to the head ahead of the deadline to submit the books, but Mr David said: “I thought it was a little bit of banter, I didn’t realise he was indicating pressures.”

Yesterday Mr David said: “I was very concerned Lyndon had not had the sense to come to me or anyone else to explain the pressures that he had been under, to the extent that he felt he needed to falsify books”.

The tribunal will decide today what sanctions Mr Powell will face.