Art teacher who changed students' coursework is given ban

Nicola Hurst, who was the arts co-ordinator at Bedford High in Leigh at the time, also inserted works by a previous year's student into another pupil's coursework folder.

Hurst has now been served with a two-year prohibition notice by the Teaching Agency after a misconduct hearing in Coventry.

Interviews were conducted with various pupils at Bedford High over how the 32-year-old oversaw her GCSE classes between September 2016 and May 2018.

One student said he had done a picture of his girlfriend which the teacher rubbed out and redid.

Another youngster recalled Hurst drawing flower petals as part of her coursework.

An investigation found Hurst had ripped out artwork from one source and when she placed it in another pupil's folder, she told one student to "sush".

The teacher was summoned to a November 2018 disciplinary hearing but resigned beforehand. She had worked there since September 2011. Later the exam board AQA ruled Hurst had committed deception by substituting candidates' work.

The teacher, for whom three misconduct claims were found proved, can apply for her ban to be reviewed in July 2023.

The watchdog noted: “The panel did not consider that Ms Hurst’s actions resulted in any personal gain and that she was motivated by a misguided belief that she was simply helping the pupils.

"As such, the panel decided that it would be proportionate, in all the circumstances, for the prohibition order to be recommended with provisions for a two-year review period.”

Hurst had previously denied four allegations. One relating to the teacher asking a pupil to help a second student with coursework was dismissed. She did not attend the misconduct hearing.

Sarah Buxcey, a decision maker on behalf of Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said: "In my judgement, the lack of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision."