04/07/2007
Teacher found guilty over secret classroom filming
A supply teacher who secretly filmed unruly pupils in her classroom for a television documentary has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
Angela Mason, from London, had admitted filming a number of incidents of pupils misbehaving and disrupting lessons in a number of schools in London and the north east of England for Five documentary 'Classroom Chaos'.
Ms Mason used a camera hidden in her handbag in order to film the incidents, which were recorded in late 2004 and early 2005.
She argued that she was acting in the public interest. However, the General Teaching Council, which regulates the profession, ruled that her claim was not strong enough to justify breaching the trust she had with her pupils.
The professional body has the authority to ban her from teaching, but has not yet announced what action it will take.
GTC chairman Andrew Baxter said: "She was employed and paid by these schools to teach pupils in her care.
"In fact, her true motivation was to obtain secret film of the pupils for the purposes of a television programme. In that respect we find that her conduct abused the trust of the head teachers, staff and pupils at the schools."
Commenting on the verdict, a spokesperson for Five said: "We are pleased the committee found the programme was undertaken responsibly, but disappointed that they decided to shoot the honest messenger."
(KMcA)
Angela Mason, from London, had admitted filming a number of incidents of pupils misbehaving and disrupting lessons in a number of schools in London and the north east of England for Five documentary 'Classroom Chaos'.
Ms Mason used a camera hidden in her handbag in order to film the incidents, which were recorded in late 2004 and early 2005.
She argued that she was acting in the public interest. However, the General Teaching Council, which regulates the profession, ruled that her claim was not strong enough to justify breaching the trust she had with her pupils.
The professional body has the authority to ban her from teaching, but has not yet announced what action it will take.
GTC chairman Andrew Baxter said: "She was employed and paid by these schools to teach pupils in her care.
"In fact, her true motivation was to obtain secret film of the pupils for the purposes of a television programme. In that respect we find that her conduct abused the trust of the head teachers, staff and pupils at the schools."
Commenting on the verdict, a spokesperson for Five said: "We are pleased the committee found the programme was undertaken responsibly, but disappointed that they decided to shoot the honest messenger."
(KMcA)
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