A SCIENCE teacher who was found guilty of serious professional incompetence can continue to teach, a hearing has ruled.

Tracey Jayne Beadle, 46, who worked at Lewis Girls' Comprehensive School in Ystrad Mynach from 2003, allegedly told children to "look busy" when senior staff entered the room and her lessons "ended in chaos".

At a hearing before the Education Workforce Council's Fitness to Practise Committee in Cardiff today, Ms Beadle was given a conditional registration order.

She admitted the six allegations of failing to perform as an effective classroom teacher between February 2012 and January 2014.

This morning the panel formally found Ms Beadle guilty of five allegations that she did not independently plan lessons, did not choose an appropriate range of learning approaches, did not consistently deliver engaging lessons, did not ensure she provided regular feedback and did not ensure that her marking identified areas for pupils' development.

She was also found guilty of the sixth allegation, that her conduct demonstrated a level of competence which falls "seriously short below that expected of a registered person".

But the panel today decided she can remain on the teaching register but on three conditions. She must attend three training courses, provide the EWC with a termly report from her school and inform all school employers of the panel's decision.

On Monday, school deputy head Helen Harding told the panel: "On the last lesson I observed, Ms Beadle got the lesson wrong and the children ended up repeating the lesson for the third time.

"There were complaints the children were being told to look busy if either I or Ms Phillips [acting headteacher] came into the room."

Ms Beadle, who has also worked as a geophysicist in the oil industry and as a police officer since becoming qualified to teach in 1991, was given a formal written warning and put on a capability procedure in December 2012.

Giving evidence today, Ms Beadle claimed there had been a "personality clash" between herself and a head of department who was appointed in 2011.

She said she began to suffer from poor mental health following on from an increased work load and a number of personal issues.

Ms Beadle said: "Reliving it now is painful. I thought I was being professional by going on.

"The doctor and the head of Maths suggested I took time off but I said the children need me, they have an exam next week.

"I was a complete mess. I should have taken time off to recover."

She said: "I've got my mojo back. It's a very hard thing to admit as a professional that perhaps you weren't up to scratch. I feel awful I did let the children down."

Chair of the panel, Gareth Roberts, said: "Ms Beadle has begun to show insight into her failings and improved her performance.

"Ms Beadle has shown considerable remorse and with regard to the impact her performance had on learners at the time.

"Learners will not be disadvantaged directly or indirectly by this order.

"Ms Beadle will not pose a significant risk of repeating the behaviour."

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