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Former Whitehill Primary School and King's Farm Primary School headteacher Jane Porter banned from teaching

She tried to ban Christmas; now she's been banned herself.

Controversial Gravesend headteacher Jane Porter - who bullied staff and tried to ban Kent primary school pupils from talking about Christmas - has been prohibited from teaching, following a two-week disciplinary hearing into her conduct.

Jane Porter is up for a disciplinary hearing
Jane Porter is up for a disciplinary hearing

The professional conduct panel concluded the former Whitehill Primary School and King's Farm Primary School head had subjected staff to sustained bullying, failed to safeguard pupils' well-being, and failed to show tolerance and well-being of others.

"Ms Porter failed to ensure adequate health and safety and safeguarding procedures and practices were in place, and failed to provide adequate support for SEN pupils," concluded Jayne Millions, on behalf of the Secretary of State, in a notice published today following the hearing last month.

And she added: "I agree with the panel that her persistent actions amounted to bullying. Ms Porter failed to manage the School in an appropriate manner and her actions would clearly have had a detrimental impact upon the school and the wider community.

Whitehill Primary School
Whitehill Primary School

"I have taken into account the mitigating factors considered by the panel. I note that the panel found that the majority of Ms Porter’s actions were deliberate.

"There was no evidence to suggest that she was acting under duress, and the panel found Ms Porter’s actions to be calculated and motivated."

"Ms Porter did not recognise the effect of her action upon the pupils, staff and parents.

"The panel considered that throughout these proceedings, Ms Porter showed no remorse for her actions and demonstrated a lack of compassion.

"Having engaged in sustained and serious bullying, whilst failing to manage the running of the school, the results of which included breaches in health and safety and safeguarding, the panel felt the findings indicated a situation in which a review period would not be appropriate."

Kings Farm Primary School
Kings Farm Primary School

The panel ruled that Ms Porter is now prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

The panel ruled that she is also not entitled to apply to have the ban lifted due to the seriousness of the allegations proved against her.

Ms Porter's leadership of Whitehill in Sun Lane, where she worked for 18 years, was described as “toxic” by the Gravesham branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) upon her departure.

Exam chiefs launched an investigation into the school in the summer of 2014, with a number of tests scrapped due to “maladministration”.

The year before, Mrs Porter had sparked controversy by banning pupils from mentioning Christmas before December and threatening them with the loss of their “golden time” should they disobey.

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