A TEACHER who lived “in a time warp” in ignorance of modern methods has been found guilty of serious professional incompetence by the General Teaching Council.
Robert Smith, 51, a modern languages teacher with 25 years’ experience, failed to keep up with the national curriculum and changes in teaching methods, a GTC disciplinary hearing was told.
It was only when a review of his classroom performance was in its final stages that “the scales began to fall from his eyes” and he realised he had to “update his methodology”. No one had told Mr Smith about diagnostic marking and the need to explain to pupils how they could improve.
A GCSE exam he invigilated had to be cancelled after he let pupils use reference books, and left an answer book open on his desk.
Even when an extensive support system was put in place to assist his performance, he failed to make any significant improvement and he resigned when he considered the process was leading to his dismissal.
The GTC disciplinary panel sitting in Birmingham upheld the complaint that his standards of teaching fell seriously short and that he failed to improve during a period of mentoring and support. It has the power to strike him off and is considering what sanction to issue.
The panel heard that Mr Smith, who was represented by his union the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and did not attend the hearing, joined Alcester high school in Warwickshire in 1999. It was the third school to employ him.
John Hart, the ATL official representing Mr Smith, said he was beginning to make improvements and should have been given more time.
He told the hearing: “In some ways he was caught in a time warp. It was rather naive of him but nobody had ever told him what diagnostic marking was.
“I have dealt with many members of Robert’s age who have taken a while to catch up with the national curriculum.”
Chris Millen, deputy head at Alcester high, told the hearing of the GCSE incident.
A decision by the GTC regarding sanctions will be made later.
