Leeds teacher guilty of 'unacceptable conduct' after whispering answers to pupils during exam
She's avoided a ban from the profession - after a hearing at the Teaching Regulation Agency
A Leeds supply teacher has avoided a ban from the profession, despite being found to have whispered answers to pupils during a GCSE French exam.
Veronique Matchim was working as a supply teacher at the Abbey Grange Church of England Academy at the time of the offence in April 2024.
She was found to have helped pupils during an oral French exam by whispering words to them that they could then use in their answers.
A report from professional body the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) reads: "The panel concluded that there was evidence that the teacher’s actions were deliberate."
"However, the panel also had regard Miss Matchim’s account that her actions were not premeditated, but rather a reflexive response.
"The panel noted that she had no previous experience of acting as an examiner in formal examinations. It also noted that she cited a specific health condition that may have clouded her judgement.
"The panel had no medical evidence that this condition was present, or about what specific impact it may have had on her actions, but it accepted that generally it is a condition that may impact on thought processes.
"In these circumstances, the panel accepted that Miss Matchim had not entered the assessments with a premeditated plan to cheat, but that in some of the assessments, she had provided prompts to the students of the sort that a teacher might legitimately provide outside a formal examination setting."
The TRA found Matchim's action amounted to 'unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.'
However, the panel decided against banning her because she eventually admitted guilt and has accepted responsibility for her actions.