James Middleditch, a 29-year-old music teacher, was dismissed from Archbishop Sancroft High School (now Harleston Sandcroft Academy) in Harleston due to conduct and behavioral issues. Months later, he secured a position at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles without disclosing his previous dismissal. His deception was uncovered when a former colleague recognized him.
Following the revelation, Mr. Middleditch was called into a meeting, where he resigned after becoming angry. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) conducted a hearing and determined that his actions demonstrated a lack of integrity and dishonesty.
The TRA panel concluded that Mr. Middleditch's conduct fell significantly short of professional standards. His failure to disclose his previous employment and the reasons for his dismissal were deemed dishonest. Consequently, he received a prohibition order, preventing him from teaching indefinitely.
James Middleditch landed a role at Sir John Leman High School, near Beccles, just months after being dismissed from another school over concerns about his conduct.
The 29-year-old was sacked by the then Archbishop Sancroft High in Harleston at the end of a probation period, with the school citing issues with his "conduct and behaviour out of school" as reason for his termination.
However, when he later successfully landed a job at Sir John Leman, he made no reference to his employment at the other school in his application.
His employment went ahead and he spent four months working at Sir John Leman, with his employer still unaware of his time at the neighbouring school.
But his deception was exposed when a former colleague, who was being given a tour of the site before starting a job there herself, recognised him.
A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) misconduct panel heard the new teacher "expressed surprise" at seeing him working at the school, due to his previous sacking.
After school leaders conferred with counterparts at Archbishop Sancroft - now called Harleston Sandcroft Academy - Mr Middleditch was called into a meeting on March 30, 2023, and resigned on the spot.
Ruth Gurney, who was acting headteacher at the school at the time, told the TRA hearing Mr Middleditch became "very angry" during the meeting - at which he was told he would be suspended pending further investigation.
She said he had described his experience at the school as a "stitch-up".
But the TRA panel ruled he had been dishonest, and his actions had "demonstrated a lack of integrity".
In an official report, decision-maker David Oatley wrote: "The panel finds that the conduct of Mr Middleditch fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.
"Mr Middleditch's conduct in failing to declare his previous employment and the reasons for leaving that employment lacked integrity.
"The panel was satisfied that Mr Middleditch had deliberately concealed that employment and the reasons for it ending."
Following the hearing, Mr Middleditch has been served with a prohibition order, preventing him from teaching indefinitely - in any kind of education facility or at a pupil's home.
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