A HEADTEACHER - who described a pupil as an “attention seeker” after the child disclosed being abused - has been banned from teaching after a disciplinary panel found she put her own interests above safeguarding a vulnerable child.

Kathryn Bell who was headteacher of Great Smeaton School near Northallerton during 2012 and 2013 has been banned from teaching for a minimum of five years over her handling of allegations of abuse made by a pupil.

The professional conduct panel for the National College for Teaching and Leadership school heard how she told the pupil’s alleged abuser of the allegations made against him, without first informing police or any child protection agencies, which could have placed the child at risk of significant harm or impeded any police investigation.

Ms Bell denied the allegation, but the panel referred to written evidence she had provided to police in which she confirmed she had notified the man - referred to in the report as “Adult B”.

The panel also heard when she was informed by a social care manager that a child protection meeting was being held for the pupil, the headteacher claimed it was “not appropriate” for her to attend and did not send another member of staff.

In the end a written report from a teaching assistant was submitted.

The panel also found Ms Bell had failed to notify the local authority or the chair of governors that the safeguarding disclosure had been made by the child, referred to as Pupil A.

The panel found she had also acted in her own interests “over and above the welfare of Pupil A”.

The headteacher did not inform the pupil’s support worker of the allegations so the worker was unable to support the child.

Pupil A's parent stated nothing was really done to support her child and she felt she had no option but to move the youngster to another school, which she felt “was the best course of action for Ms Bell rather than Pupil A, who wanted to see out the year with her friends.”

Ms Bell claimed she had supported the child.

She also made staff in school aware that she did not believe Pupil A. According to another teacher she used derogatory language to describe Pupil A and the child’s mother, claiming Pupil A was an “attention seeker, who made up stories”.

Ms Bell denied the comments.

The panel concluded Ms Bell's actions had resulted in “breaches of child protection and safeguarding procedures.”

It added; “These actions demonstrate that Ms Bell’s thoughts were to act in her own interests, rather than safeguarding a vulnerable child” and fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession."

The panel made a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Education that Ms Bell be prohibited from teaching. The order will be reviewed in five years’ time.

The recommendation was upheld by Alan Meyrick on behalf of the Department for Education, who stated: “There was the potential that Ms Bell’s conduct could lead to Pupil A being exposed to harmful behaviour, for instance, from Adult B’s reaction to the allegations.

“A prohibition order would therefore prevent such a risk from being present in the future. I have also taken into account the panel’s comments on insight and remorse which the panel sets out as follows, “Given the lack of insight and remorse shown by Ms Bell, the panel considered that there was a continuing risk.”

The panel later says “Throughout, Ms Bell has sought to minimise the consequences of her actions. The panel did not consider that her lack of insight led to harmful behaviour but it did lead to inappropriate behaviour.” In my judgement the lack of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour.”

Great Smeaton Academy Primary School did not wish to comment on the case. It is understood Ms Bell has not been at the school for at least three years.

An NSPCC spokesman described the case as "extremely worrying". 

He said: “Instead of fulfilling her duty of care, Bell put her own selfish interests ahead of her pupil’s welfare.

“Whenever a child makes the difficult decision to disclose alleged abuse to a trusted adult, it is extremely important that all appropriate procedures are followed.

“Children must feel confident that, if they speak out, they will be heard and their concerns acted upon.”

The NSPCC’s helpline for adults who require support is available 24/7 and for free on 0808-800-5000. Help for children and young people is available through ChildLine on 0800-1111.