Leeds SENDCO teacher banned from profession after falsifying teaching candidate's induction records

Karen Horler, 57, provided a “false account” of a SEN teaching assistant candidate’s induction, while serving as the Director of Personalised Provision and SEND Co-ordinator at the Co-op Academy Leeds, a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct panel found.

The panel heard how in September 2023, Mrs Horler “provided a false verbal account” of a lesson observation to other members of the panel in relation to a SEN teaching assistant candidate, and provided a false written account via email.

Mrs Horler was also found by the panel to have completed a colleague’s formal induction review forms for him by writing comments on his behalf and/or electronically signing his name, without his knowledge or consent. Mrs Horler did not attend the panel hearing but denied the allegations against her.

The TRA report said: “The panel found that Mrs Horler had not only knowingly manipulated another teacher’s induction records to show that he had completed tasks which he had not completed, but that one of the induction documents which Mrs Horler had signed on behalf of another teacher was the Keeping Children Safe In Education safeguarding document.

“The panel considered that this document was of vital importance to the teaching profession, and Mrs Horler’s actions in signing to confirm that this document had been read and understood by another teacher without consultation were a serious matter.”

The TRA heard how on September 8 2023, the Co-op Academy Leeds held interviews for the position of a SEN teaching assistant. This process included an in-class observation, but following a complaint from one of the candidates, it subsequently came to light that Mrs Horler allegedly did not observe the in-class recruitment exercise for one of the candidates.

Mrs Horler subsequently left her position at the academy in December 2023 after an internal investigation into the allegations. The matter was then referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency in May 2024.

As part of misconduct proceedings, Mrs Horler submitted 13 character references to attest to her ability as a teacher, but the panel noted that the character references did not necessarily relate to the allegations and there was no evidence to suggest that the authors were aware of the allegations.

The report added: “In light of the panel’s findings against Mrs Horler, there was a strong public interest consideration in the safeguarding of the pupils and upholding proper standards of conduct.

“The panel was disappointed that Mrs Horler was not present to provide any evidence as to her level of insight and/or remorse, and the panel was therefore unable to properly assess the future risk of any repetition.”

They ruled that a prohibition order with a two year review period would be proportionate for the proven accusations. As a result, Mrs Horler has been banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. She may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until March 12, 2028.

Accusations that she had not conducted regular home visits for a pupil during an extended period of absence were ruled not to have been proven.

A spokesperson for the Co-op Academies Trust said: “This relates to a former employee at Co-op Academies Trust. We expect the highest standards from all our colleagues, particularly when it comes to safeguarding and professional integrity.

“Where those standards are not met, we take appropriate action. We fully respect the outcome of the professional conduct process.”