They have been summoned for fiddling expenses, bullying colleagues and helping pupils to cheat in exams. Some left in disgrace, others were exonerated or given a rap on the knuckles.
Last week, the General Teaching Council for England held its 100th disciplinary hearing. Since January 2002, 15 teachers have been banned and 12 suspended; 40 teachers are subject to conditional registration orders ranging from having to attend a bullying, harassment and dignity at work course to having no dealings with school finances and keeping the GTC informed of current and future employment. Nineteen teachers have been reprimanded.
In two cases no action was needed, and 11 hearings found no serious professional incompetence or unacceptable conduct. In one instance, the panel said it no jurisdiction over the allegations.
Eugene Symonds, an Oxfordshire head, was one of a number of teachers found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct but allowed to carry on teaching. He was reprimanded in May 2003 after claiming pound;4,000 for lunch duties he did not perform, but was allowed to stay in his job at West Kidlington county nursery school.
James Bashford, a student teacher jailed for scarring a man in a pub fight, was found guilty of unacceptable conduct was also able to carry on teaching.
Borys Dmytrenko is one of the 15 teachers given prohibition orders. He was banned for two years after being jailed for keeping illegal weapons while working at Copley high, Stalybridge, in December 2003.
* dorothy.lepkowska@tes.co.uk
