Joy Ballard Says She Would Do Some It Again After Findings

joy ballard defended her conduct today at a resumed Teaching Regulation Agency hearing after a panel ruled some of her behaviour amounted to misconduct of a serious nature. The former Ryde Academy headteacher told the panel she partially accepted responsibility and said she would do some of it again.

Ballard had already waived her right to give oral evidence and submitted a 13 page mitigation statement before the hearing resumed. She also said, "I partially accept some responsibility," and described taking the school car to holiday in France as "a stupid decision."

Ryde Academy hearing

The panel found yesterday that the factual allegations against her were proven. Those allegations included taking the school car to France and changing term dates to accommodate a holiday.

Ballard said she accepts the panel's decision, but not the part about changing the inset days. She said the inset dates were still in draft and were not sent out to parents, and said she did not intentionally change the dates to accommodate the cruise.

Ballard's response

At the hearing, Ballard said she did go on a cruise and that she does accept responsibility. She also said she partially accepted that her actions were dishonest and lacked integrity, while adding that policies were fluid and changing at times.

She said the findings were partially serious but not when it was three people against one. Ballard also said she remained adamant the school car was insured, and added: "I reflect upon that every day how stupid it was."

The panel said some of her conduct fell short of the standards expected of the profession and may have brought the profession into disrepute. Jim Olphert represented the Teaching Regulation Agency during the hearing.

The case now turns on how the panel weighs Ballard's mitigation against the findings it has already made. Her own account leaves little room for dispute over the car use, but she is still challenging the way the dates were handled.