PE teacher falsified students' coursework marks

A teacher who falsified his students' coursework marks before allowing them to improve their work so it reflected the grades he had given them has been struck off.

Duncan Jackson, who worked at Felixstowe School, Suffolk, inaccurately graded pupils studying the NCFE V Cert Health and Fitness qualification.

The head of PE, who joined the school in September 2010, then submitted the marks to the exam board before amending their work.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) ruled his actions were dishonest, lacked integrity and amounted to misconduct before banning him from the profession.

"The panel noted the marks were significantly higher than the marks which could reasonably be attributed to the work the pupils had completed at that time," the TRA said.

"The panel was satisfied that the marks submitted did not accurately reflect the standard of the work produced by the students."

Jackson submitted the incorrect marks on 29 April 2024 before seeking to change his students' work between then and 3 May, according to the TRA.

Suspicions were raised when pupils started being withdrawn from lessons to complete work despite the deadline for the submission of marks having passed.

Jackson, who gave "substantially different" marks to 30 students with an average difference of 21 marks, also amended the work of at least one of his pupils himself.

He was caught in the act when a colleague checked what he was doing on his computer using software that allows users to monitor screens on other machines.

The school conducted an investigation in July 2024 before an appeal hearing was held the following month.

The matter was referred to the TRA in October 2024.

Jackson admitted "going too far" but argued that the marks submitted were "based on what he believed the pupils would be able to achieve if they had more time".

He formed the view that the marks entered were "aligned to each student's assessed capability", the TRA said, but he acknowledged his actions were "deeply regretful".

"Mr Jackson described his judgement as having been clouded at the time and that he characterised his actions as mistakes or misjudgements," the TRA added.

"He acknowledged that he had let students down and breached the trust placed in teachers by the examination board by failing to uphold the values of the profession."

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