A Croydon teacher has been banned indefinitely from the classroom after she admitted to doing a student’s coursework and submitting it to the exam board as if it were their own.
Lauren Oliver, 35, who worked at Oasis Academy Shirley Park, has been struck off the teaching register after a misconduct panel heard how she rewrote one of her pupils’ coursework, signed it off dishonestly, and gained them an improved grade.
The scandal came to light when the student, referred to as Pupil A, came forward five months later in June 2023 and revealed the coursework submitted under their name had actually been completed by her teacher, Ms Oliver. The teacher had told Pupil A that her work would be sampled for moderation, and that she would write and submit the work on her behalf.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found that Ms Oliver had deliberately rewritten and submitted two key coursework assignments for the pupil in November 2022. On both occasions, Ms Oliver signed official documentation confirming the work was the student’s own, despite knowing that it was false.
The panel noted that Ms Oliver’s conduct placed “Pupil A in a very difficult position”, adding: “It risked their academic record and could have impacted their final grade.”
Pupil A temporarily received a better grade before Ms Oliver’s actions came to light.
She later admitted the wrongdoing during the school’s internal investigation. The panel concluded that her actions were dishonest, lacked integrity and amounted to serious misconduct. At the time, Ms Oliver, who had joined the school in 2012, was employed as the school’s Lead Teacher of Health and Social Care.
In a report published on Thursday (August 7), the panel described her behaviour as a significant breach of professional standards that put the integrity of the examination system at risk. They added that her decision to bypass these responsibilities and cheat the system was “unethical and unacceptable”.
The report said: “Ms Oliver also failed to role model good behaviour as she initiated the misconduct, and it came to light only when Pupil A made a report to the Principal. Ms Oliver could have proactively brought her own conduct to the attention of the school had she chosen to do so.”
The panel also found that her actions could have impacted Pupil A’s final grade during an important stage of her school career. Following the revelation, Oasis carried out an extensive investigation in order to determine whether Ms Oliver’s behaviour was an isolated incident.
The TRA report does not state either way whether further evidence was found. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has asked the school to clarify that point.
The Secretary of State agreed with the panel’s recommendation to impose a prohibition order, which means Ms Oliver cannot teach in any school, college, or children’s home in England. She may apply for the ban to be lifted in July 2027, but there is no guarantee it will be removed.
While the panel acknowledged her 12-year previously unblemished record, contrition and the personal difficulties she was facing at the time, they were not convinced she had shown enough insight or reflection into the seriousness of her actions.
Oasis Academy Shirley Park was approached for comment but did not respond in time for publication.
Don’t miss out on the biggest Croydon stories. Sign up to our Croydon Central newsletter HERE for all the latest weekly news and more.
