Headteacher's shame
Frederick Mark Jeffery appeared in front of the General Teaching Council for England last Thursday to face the allegation.
The hearing was told that while he was employed as a headteacher at St John's Church England Community School, Goodwyns Road, in Dorking, between September 2005 and October 2007, he falsified accounts and evidence in the management of a grant.
A spokesman for the GTC issued the following statement:
"Mr Jeffery accepts that his conduct amounts to unacceptable professional conduct.
"The committee considers that in falsifying the timesheet in support of the EU ICT training grant Mr Jeffery failed to maintain appropriate standards of probity and integrity in management and administration of school-related finances.
"It is a fundamental responsibility of a professional to maintain his or her integrity irrespective of any pressures and demands he or she faces at the time.
"As a consequence, although the committee recognises the challenging environment at the school, it judges that Mr Jeffery's conduct still falls short of the standards expected of a Registered Teacher and behaviour which involves a breach of the standards of propriety expected of the profession."
The committee said prior to accepting a position on a school leadership team, Mr Jeffery must provide certain evidence to the Registrar of General Teaching Council.
This includes refunding the overpayment and taking part in a training course in financial management systems.
A spokesman for Surrey County Council said: "As soon as we found out we took action. Mr Jeffery left the school about a month after our investigation ended.
"He has not worked in any of our schools since.
"His actions were not those of a responsible professional in a position of trust and fell well short of the high standards we expect at all times.
"This is reflected in the disciplinary hearing's decision."
Mr Jeffery has a right of appeal to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.
