Teacher Disqualified for Submitting Fabricated School Reference

An educator has been barred from teaching after securing a senior position by submitting a fraudulent reference, which she falsely claimed originated from the head teacher of her previous school. Kate Barnes-Kidd, aged 34, was employed at a school in Windsor when she successfully sought a position as a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) at a different institution within the same town. She furnished a Gmail address, asserting it belonged to the personal account of her previous head teacher. Shortly after commencing her new role, she was confronted about her deception, leading her to resign. She stated at the time that she “did not want to work at a school that behaved in this manner”. The head teachers of both schools identified an irregularity during a phone discussion, when Ms. Barnes-Kidd’s new employer learned that her former head teacher had not, in fact, provided a reference. Her former employer informed a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel that she was “shocked” upon reviewing the reference, describing it as a “factually inaccurate representation of [Ms Barnes-Kidd’s] experience, knowledge and time” at her institution. The former employer also stated that she had never possessed a Gmail account. The panel concluded, stating: “There was no evidence that Ms Barnes-Kidd’s actions were not deliberate – indeed, the evidence was to the contrary.” The panel further noted that she had supplied inaccurate information to gain paid leave. According to the panel, no evidence of insight or remorse was ever presented by Ms. Barnes-Kidd. Consequently, she has been prohibited from teaching for a minimum period of five years. Her eligibility to apply for the restoration of her registration will commence in November 2029. Readers can connect with BBC Berkshire on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.