A WEST Devon primary school teacher has been banned from the profession after it emerged she corrected pupils’ answers and encouraged children to alter their answers during SATs testing.

Kim Wild, a former headteacher at Bere Alston Primary School, has been banned from teaching for at least two years for altering pupils’ test papers, a report by a professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) announced.

Ms Wild, 61, was employed at the school from September 1983 as a teacher and from September 1992 to August 2017 as the school’s headteacher.

The report by the agency stated: ‘On May 9, 2017, Ms Wild was the teacher in charge of Key Stage 2 SATs papers relating to English grammar punctuation and spelling. During the tests, it is alleged that Ms Wild invited some pupils to clarify the alterations on their exam papers when they were being collected by her, that she reviewed the papers as she was doing so and subsequently clarified some of the amendments made by the pupils and corrected answers.

‘It was also alleged that on May 10, 2017, Ms Wild over-aided some pupils during their KS2 mathematics papers and had amended incorrect answers on these papers after the conclusion of the tests.’

The report added that following an anonymous tip off, the Standards and Testing Agency conducted an investigation, which led to its decision to annul the results for all pupils for all subjects within the school’s cohort.

‘Whilst the panel has found that Ms Wild’s misconduct to only have taken place on one day, it has also found her conduct to be dishonest, which can only be deemed to be inherently serious in nature. The panel therefore find that Ms Wild’s actions constitute both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.’

Alan Meyrick, TRA decision maker, said in his report: ‘The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of dishonesty on the part of a headteacher, albeit that that dishonesty occurred on one day only.

‘Whilst there was no pre-planning involved, Ms Wild’s conduct was dishonest, which is necessarily an extremely serious failing and has to be treated seriously.’

But since the report was published, parents of current and past children from Bere Alston Primary School have rallied around Ms Wild to show their support.

Jeremy Maddock said: ‘It was a huge shock when Kim left the school and her loss continues to be felt. She was devoted to the school and everything she did was for the children and the betterment of the school. In return the children adored her, the staff were loyal to her and there is an army of parents who would have her back tomorrow if only that were possible.’

Ms Wild has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school. She can apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until two years from the date of the order, which is March 11, 2021.