A LYING teacher’s false cancer claims amounted to “fraud or serious dishonesty at the most serious end of the spectrum”, a watchdog found.

Julianne Cox, a former teacher at St Helena School, in Colchester, falsely claimed her retina had been surgically removed after cancer had been discovered in her right eye.

After making repeated false claims over treatment in 2015 and 2016, the school even purchased specialist equipment to help Ms Cox with her alleged vision issues.

Tests later found she had both of her eyes and there was no evidence of any surgery.

The Teacher Regulation Agency put a prohibition order in place, banning Mx Cox from the profession indefinitely.

The panel said it also had “serious concerns” about Ms Cox’s evidence, in particular over the validity of her PhD qualification.

She said she completed her PhD at Cavendish College, but the panel put to her such college had not existed since 1892 and had no current internet presence.

The following day, Ms Cox said she had studied at Cavendish Laboratory College, Cambridge.

She provided an ‘official transcript’, which she alleged was a document provided by her university in 1995.

But the panel found the title of the document contained spelling errors and stated it was issued by the University of Cambridge, contradicting Ms Cox’s previous evidence.

Ms Cox had previously told the panel she was not “intelligent” enough to attend Cambridge University.

The panel said: “The gravity of Ms Cox’s misconduct meant that, in the panel’s view, it amounted to fraud or serious dishonesty at the most serious end of the spectrum.

“Of particular concern was the lack of insight and remorse Ms Cox showed at the hearing.

“Ms Cox had the benefit of some seven years to reflect on her behaviour and develop insight yet, despite this, she had failed to demonstrate sufficient insight and remorse at the hearing, and went so far as to provide what the panel considered to be dishonest evidence.

“The panel was concerned that a longer review period would be unlikely to assist Ms Cox in developing insight.

“The panel also considered Ms Cox’s lack of credibility at the hearing in terms of the evidence she gave and its concern in respect of the high likelihood of the repetition of her conduct given that the panel believed she continued her pattern of dishonesty throughout the hearing.”

Fiona Pierson, Executive Headteacher at St Helena School, said: "We acknowledge the findings of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) and welcome the decision they have made." 

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