Former Darwen head reprimanded over sex offender job (From Blackburn Citizen)

Former Darwen head reprimanded over sex offender job

8:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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By Nafeesa Shan »

A HEADTEACHER has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct for allowing a convicted paedophile access to images of children.

Kathleen Tyson, who was in charge of Holy Trinity Primary School, Darwen, was given a reprimand at the General Teaching Council hearing in Birmingham yesterday.

It will remain on her record for two years.

The hearing was told Mrs Tyson was aware Mr A had been jailed for 8 months in August 2005 for indecently assaulting a boy under 13 and was found with 391 indecent images of children.

Mrs Tyson was found guilty of allowing Mr A, to provide services to the school knowing he was convicted sex offender, was on list 99 (a list of people not allowed to work in schools) and allowed him to access images relating to the school and pupils.

She was also found guilty of failing to comply with local authority and the school financial procedure in using Mr A’s services in moving furniture, creating the school prospectus and updating the website.

It was not proven she allowed Mr A to repair a television or that she had a financial interest in work or services which Mr A provided.

Chairman Barry Picken told her: “The issue in this case results from the course of action you choose to take with Mr A and your poor judgement in employing his services.

“We are concerned that you have shown limited insight into your actions, however we are satisfied that you will not behave in a similar way in the future.

"We have noted that you are no longer connected with Mr A.

“Your conduct has fallen below the standard of conduct expected of a registered teacher and your actions have the potential to bring the reputation of the profession into disrepute.”

Mrs Tyson was sacked from the Bank Top primary school following the incident in 2007.

She has not worked since, the hearing revealed.

Barrister Simon Pritchard for the NAHT (National Association of Headteachers), which represented Mrs Tyson, said she had been under a lot of pressure which included a teacher committing suicide.

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