Sir accused of teaching the wrong GCSE curriculum after just ONE of his pupils got above a Grade D

A TEACHER has been accused of teaching the wrong GCSE curriculum after just one of his 29 pupils got above a grade D.

The school has now launched an investigation into why only one student achieved the A* to C national benchmark in engineering.

St Mary’s Catholic High School, in Astley, Greater Manchester, says the teacher in question is now a "former member of staff".

Kieron Morris, 16, who scored a D, was given a hand-written note from the head of the school’s technology department saying that "gross malpractice by the teacher and elements of missing controlled assessment work led to the poor result".

The note added: "The grade does not reflect this young man’s ability. It should have been a B with an efficient teacher."

His dad Mike, of Leigh, said: "After getting the note we spoke to the head of technology and he said only one of the 29 children who sat the exam passed it – with a C grade.

"He explained the teacher taught them the wrong curriculum and he only found out two weeks before they sat their exams, by which time there was not much the school could do to help the students."

Head teacher Andrew Dawson said: "The school can confirm a complaint has been received from a parent concerning their son’s results in engineering, which contrasts significantly with the other high grades the student achieved.

"I have already met with the parents to assure them this will be looked at closely and their son will be fully supported to achieve his goals with his otherwise excellent grades.

"All teachers are required to follow the curriculum and lessons are planned accordingly and there was a dip in performance across the subject.

"As always we will be looking at ways to improve this before the next academic year, but for now our focus is working with the pupils to support and advise them on their next steps."

He added that the "allegations regarding a former member of staff are unsubstantiated".

However, Kieron says he feels "let down" by the school, particularly because he wants to be a civil engineer and his D could count against him in the future.

"Thankfully I have been accepted onto a civil engineering course at Wigan and Leigh College but I was really angry and upset when I found out that I had got a D in engineering.

"My teacher knew that I wanted to go into civil engineering and gave us all high expectations by giving us good mock results and feedback. He has let us all down.

"I am worried that my D could jeopardise my chances to do well in my chosen career.

"If I resit the exam I think the outcome would be the same because I have not been taught the right stuff, which is very frustrating after going to extra classes after school to make sure I did well.

"My dad has always supported me and I am glad he has gone into school to complain because this is not right."

Mike, 56, added: "My son and my wife were in tears after finding out this result.

"We had been told at a parents’ evening ahead of the exams by the teacher in question that our son was due to get a B if not an A or A* if he tried a bit harder, so it was a nasty shock.

"I am so proud of Kieron for his good grades and working hard but I am just devastated that he has been let down by the staff at St Mary’s.

"I have spoken to the school and told them that if they had been keeping an eye on this teacher then this could have been discovered months earlier and I will be reporting this to Ofsted."

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