A FORMER teacher has been banned from teaching for at least two years after lying to her school about illness treatment appointments.

Lisa Howes, 48, used to work at the Hedingham School in Sible Hedingham until 2018 when she was sacked after a school enquiry.

Allegations made against the former languages teacher said she had falsely claimed she would need time away from work for MRI scans.

Ms Howes, who was also a Head of House at the school, is also said to have requested time off for a lumbar puncture appointment and radiotherapy treatment.

Between January and April 2018, the former teacher, who had worked at the school since 2002, requested time away from work numerous times.

She is also said to have supplied fraudulent and fake NHS documents to back up her requests for time off.

The school was even told a letter provided to them by Ms Howes from the NHS concerning the radiotherapy treatment "appeared to be fraudulent" by a representative of the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

The teacher attempted to appeal her sacking by the school for gross misconduct but the appeal panel upheld the original decision.

Now a Teacher Regulation Agency hearing has come to the decision to ban Ms Howes from teaching for two years after finding "all of the allegations proven."

A report published by the regulatory body and written by decision maker Sarah Buxcey said Ms Howes was breaching standards over "proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach" and having "an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities."

The report added: "The panel finds that the conduct of Ms Howes fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.

"The findings of misconduct are serious as they include a finding of falsifying NHS documents and lying to the School about her reasons for absence from work, conduct found to be dishonest and lacked integrity.

"Ms Howes was an experienced teacher, with a career of more than 20 years, who should have been well aware of the conduct expected of her, but nevertheless engaged in behaviour which fell significantly short of expectations.

"I have concluded that a prohibition order is proportionate and in the public interest in order to achieve the intended aims of a prohibition order.

"I have gone on to consider the matter of a review period. In this case, the panel has recommended a two year review period.

"I have decided that a two year review period reflects the seriousness of the findings and is a proportionate period to achieve the aim of maintaining public confidence in the profession.

"This means that Ms Lisa Howes is prohibited 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 June 14, 2023, two years from the date of this order at the earliest.

"Without a successful application, Ms Howes remains prohibited from teaching indefinitely."