THE FORMER Head-Teacher at Ysgol Gynradd Eglwyswrw was struck off by a disciplinary panel in Cardiff on Thursday (Jan 28) after being found guilty of professional misconduct.

An Education Workforce Panel found that Shan Harries had inflated Year Six pupils’ test results in order to avoid an adverse report from Estyn, the body responsible for the inspection and regulation of education and training in Wales.

Ms Harries had previously admitted telling an administrator to amend the results, but denied improving them. Ms Harries argued that it was within her rights as head teacher to adjust the results to reflect the achievements of its pupils.

The panel was told that Mrs Harries had earlier denied adjusting the results during an investigation of her conduct by Pembrokeshire County Council.

A member of school staff told the hearing that Mrs Harries had told her that the marks had to be made to look good ‘because we don’t want Estyn coming back again’.

Recommendations had been made following an earlier Estyn inspection and presenting officer Cadi Dewi told panel members that Mrs Harries was ‘underpressure because of that and she knew they were going to visit the school the following year’.

While the Estyn report for the school had been good overall, the panel was told that Mrs Harries was concerned about a specific recommendation relating to Welsh writing for pupils at Key Stage Two at the school.

Evidence given before the panel indicated that there was considerable tension between Mrs Harries’ approach to attainment issues and other members of the school teaching staff.

Speaking to the panel, Mrs Harries’ Deputy Head Tim Davies said: “She said we had to raise the standards of writing in the school. All pupils in Year Six had to reach Level Four.

“I remember saying that there were going to be some children who would struggle to achieve this given the cohort of children we had.”

Mr Davies also referred to at least one ‘heated’ conversation with Mrs Harries about increasing the level of attainment expected of the school’s students to unreasonable or unrealistic levels.

Reading a statement from Ms Harries, her solicitor Esyllt Green said: “I dedicated my entire life to my work as teacher and head teacher at Eglwyswrw County Primary School, and I am fully aware of the full extent of my actions.

“I relive it every day and night and I am full of remorse at what has happened.

“I had to deal with all the rumours and gossip that naturally occurs when a head teacher leaves a school suddenly in a close knit community.

“My picture appeared on the front page of the local newspaper which made the situation worse but the comments that appeared beneath the online story were supportive.”

EWC committee chairman Richard Parry Jones, said: “We are satisfied on the basis of Ms Harries’ admissions and our findings that her conduct amounts to unacceptable professional conduct.

“Registered teachers are to act with honesty and integrity and to uphold their conduct in teaching.

“That is the decision of the committee following detailed consideration of the evidence presented to us.”

Ms Harries was made the subject of a prohibition order, which will prevent her from teaching in any capacity. She has 28 days to appeal.

A member of school staff told the hearing that Mrs Harries had told her that the marks had to be made to look good “because we don’t want Estyn coming back again”.

Recommendations had been made following an earlier Estyn inspection and presenting officer Cadi Dewi told panel members that Mrs Harries was: “under pressure because of that and she knew they were going to visit the school the following year.”

While the Estyn report for the school had been good overall, the panel was told that Mrs Harries was concerned about a specific recommendation relating to Welsh writing for pupils at Key Stage Two at the school.

Evidence given before the panel indicated that there was considerable tension between Mrs Harries’s approach to attainment issues and other members of the school teaching staff.

Mrs Harries’ deputy head, Tim Davies, told the panel Mr Davies said: “She said we had to raise the standards of writing in the school. All pupils in year six had to reach level four.

“I remember saying that there was going to be some children who would struggle to achieve this given the cohort of children we had.”

Mr Davies also referred to at least one ‘heated’ conversation with Mrs Harries about increasing the level of attainment expected of the school’s students to unreasonable or unrealistic levels.

Mrs Harries denies any dishonest intent, while a picture has emerged at the panel hearing of increasing pressure being brought to bear on head teachers by Estyn demanding that certain levels of attainment be met regardless of past results or experience at schools inspected.