Teacher who shunned pupil’s abuse fears banned for life by secretary of state for education Nicky Morgan

Vanessa Jukes turned her back on the girl while working at High Well School in South Hiendley despite the girl telling another member of staff she only felt safe once while in school.

A professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership also found Jukes ordered staff to fake entries on the school’s register to improve attendance targets.

The hearing heard Jukes found the girl a nuisance and, after an incident in the classroom, cancelled the taxi she needed to get to school.

Ms Jukes, 55, then sent an email to a colleague saying: “If mum rings - we will say need a meeting - but not to rush one. Don’t want her in this week at least!!”

Ms Jukes also told staff to fake entries on the national database used to monitor pupil attendance targets and shred the paper records which gave the true picture.

The tribunal was told the 38 pupils in Ms Jukes’ care included individuals with severe emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

Following the hearing, Jukes was banned from teaching for life for unacceptable professional misconduct by Nicky Morgan, the secretary of state for education.

Paul Heathcote, acting on behalf of Ms Morgan, said: “Ms Jukes’ actions were dishonest and had the potential to seriously affect both the education and well-being of pupils, particularly in relation to safeguarding of vulnerable pupils.”

Ms Jukes, who was appointed head in June 2010, was suspended in December 2011 and fired in June 2013.