A United Kingdom (UK) teacher, Veronique Matchim, who whispered answers to pupils during a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) French speaking exam at Abbey Grange C of E Academy in West Park, Leeds, has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by a misconduct panel.

Matchim, who was working as an agency supply teacher at the school in April 2024, was said to have provided “improper assistance” to students during the assessment.

The professional conduct panel heard that her role during the exam was to ask questions and take part in roleplays with pupils, while audio recordings of the sessions were submitted to the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA).

According to the panel, four instances were identified by AQA where Matchim could be heard whispering French words to pupils, which they could use to answer the questions she had asked.

Matchim admitted the allegations before the panel and accepted that her behaviour amounted to conduct which may bring the profession into disrepute.

However, the panel was told she had not entered the exam with a plan to cheat and had shown some “insight and remorse”.

During the school’s investigation, Matchim twice denied in interviews that she had helped students, but later admitted to whispering prompts.

According to the BBC, the professional conduct panel of the Teacher Regulation Agency barred Matchim from involvement in AQA examinations until after 2026.

In addition, any involvement by her in examinations until after 2027 must be supervised, the regulator ruled.

Despite the findings, the panel decided not to impose a full teaching ban.

The TRA added that it considered the publication of the adverse findings it had made was “sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that are not acceptable”. (BBC)

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