One witness told the misconduct hearing that the head applied the work-from-home policy to up to 20 “extremely difficult students”, some of whom were sent home for “long periods of time”.
It was said that the policy’s intention was to reduce the school’s exclusion figures and improve attendance data.
An email from the head teacher to staff, showed to the panel, told how he wanted to “inconvenience” the mother of one pupil by suggesting they only attend school at 09:00 and 14:00 each day to collect work and receive an attendance mark.
In the email, he said this would “mean our attendance is not hit” and “gives colleagues some respite” from the girl’s “appalling behaviour”.