Shamed teacher helped pupil cheat on exams in 'moment of madness'

A high school science teacher had admitted to helping a pupil cheat on exams by providing them with answers.

Adam Lowery resigned after he was found to have aided a boy, known as pupil A, in March 2021. Mr Lowery provided answers to physics, biology and chemistry exams to the year 11 pupil, a teacher regulation agency (TRA) was told yesterday (Monday).

Mr Lowery, a former professional judo athlete, admitted the allegations relating to his conduct while working at Rainford High School, St Helens three years ago, the ECHO reports.

Mr Lowery said that he “deeply regretted the shame brought on all parties concerned.”

Jonathan Storey, on behalf of the teacher, told a three person panel that Mr Lowery accepted his actions had “given an unfair advantage” to pupil A in exams that would have counted towards his final GCSE grades.

The hearing was told how Mr Lowery, a former assistant headteacher at another school, had been employed at Rainford since September 2019. In March 2021, pupil A, sat three internal exams that were intended to inform his final GCSE grades owing to formal testing being postponed due to covid-19.

Prior to this, he had been provided with exam questions and the marking scheme by Mr Lowery. The teacher would also go onto invigilate the physics exam pupil A sat on March 31, 2021.

Red flags were first raised by three teachers who independently identified that pupil A's exam marks were "extraordinarily high" and answers were similar to those within the documents available to staff only.

Richard Spedding, the school’s head of physics, brought the matter to the attention of leadership.

When interviewed, Pupil A said that he had achieved the grades "through hard work" before backtracking and claiming he found the answers online.

Mr Lowery was also interviewed on the same day and said he had prepared all pupils in the same way but had created preparation for pupil A online.

It transpired later that Mr Lowery had in fact given pupil A a pack and told him how to answer the questions. It was said the former teacher - who resigned in May 2021 - initially lied as he was “terrified” of the situation. Pupil A’s results on the three tests were ultimately disregarded for his final GCSE mark.

Questioned by Mr Storey, Mr Lowery said he felt he had let down the community and the school through his behaviour in a “moment of madness and stupidity.” He added: “Not a moment goes by where I don’t regret it but I can’t turn the clock back.”

Mr Storey added his client had “developed a sense of embarrassment” and “accepts he acted as no teacher should.”

The TRA panel will now decide if Mr Lowery’s actions amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and if any sanction should be imposed. The hearing continues.

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