
A teacher has been banned from the classroom for falsifying his CV to land a job at a girlsâ school popular with Londonâs high society.
Cambridge-educated Simon Dodd, 39, submitted a false degree certificate showing he had obtained a 2:1 grade in his undergraduate course at Bath University, rather than a 2:2 in his application to Francis Holland School in Belgravia, a conduct panel ruled.
He was also found to have omitted a stint at another London school which lasted three months. The deception was uncovered when the head teacher at Francis Holland â where former pupils include Cara Delevingne, Sienna Miller, Joan Collins, Petra and Tamara Ecclestone, Emilia Fox, Jemima Khan and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones â had a âchance conversationâ with one of Mr Doddâs former colleagues.
From his home in Walton-on-Thames, Mr Dodd told the Standard he had made âa big mistakeâ, adding that he was considering an appeal.
A National College for Teaching and Leadership professional conduct panel heard Mr Dodd started working as director of creative enterprises at the £7,000-a-term school in Sloane Square in January last year. He resigned in March last year after being confronted by school management.
The panelâs report said: âThrough a chance conversation it came to light that he had omitted a previous period of employment from his CV.â It said further investigation revealed he had been employed elsewhere at that time. âIn addition, he included within his CV that he had obtained a 2:1 degree ... and he supported this by the submission of a falsified degree certificate.â
The panel found Mr Dodd carried out the acts âknowingly and deliberatelyâ to have a âbetter prospect of obtaining a senior position there and for financial bettermentâ. The report praised Mr Dodd for being a âtalented and dedicated teacherâ who was âopen and honest about what he had done when challengedâ.
But the panel ruled that his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct which could bring teaching into disrepute.
It issued a prohibition order, preventing him from working in teaching indefinitely, and said the breaches were so serious he would not be allowed to apply for the ban to be lifted in future. He has 28 days to appeal.
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