Wolverhampton teacher escapes ban after admitting she flew to India after 'calling in sick'

Anita Sawhney, a former science teacher at the now-closed Midpoint Centre, said she was unable to work due to a suffering with a raised temperature amid the Coronavirus pandemic - yet boarded a flight to India.

The Midpoint Centre was a pupil referral centre for youngsters with behavioural difficulties in the Parkfields area of Wolverhampton.

On October 17, 2020, flights from London Heathrow to Delhi for Miss Sawheny and her partner were booked to depart on October 20 with a return date of October 31.

The pair had private Covid-19 tests carried out at 4.45pm on October 20 which came back as negative the following day, a TRA report notes.

Miss Sawhney told the school that she had been suffering with a raised temperature on October 21.

She was requested to leave the school immediately and have a Covid test, however she did not inform the school that she had already had a test the previous day, the report adds.

On October 22, Miss Sawhney left a voicemail to the school, saying that she had a temperature and that she had suffered with this for the "past two to three days" and would not be coming in. 

She also indicated that she would see how she was that evening, as to whether she could work the next day.  

The school referred the matter to the TRA on February 16, 2021.

Miss Sawhney faced several allegations, including that between October 19 and October 21, 2020, she attended work while experiencing a potential symptom of Covid.

She denied the allegation and gave evidence to say she did not think at the time she needed to report her raised temperature earlier as she had a negative covid test.

However, it was found to be proven by a TRA panel who cited "widespread guidance and information" about Covid at the time, adding Miss Sawhney was "likely to have known" that a raised temperature was a key symptom of Covid on its own. 

Miss Sawhney however admitted that on or around October 22, 2020, she travelled by plane from the UK to India having informed the school she was unable to work due to having a temperature.

The panel noted that Miss Sawhney had "demonstrated some insight and remorse" into her actions, particularly in her written statement within which she acknowledged she was "sorry for her wrongdoing".

While the panel found the conduct of the former Wolverhampton teacher "fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession", she was spared from receiving a prohibition order banning her from the profession.

Sarah Buxcey, TRA decision maker, added: "I have concluded that a prohibition order is not proportionate or in the public interest. 

"I consider that the publication of the findings made would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to the teacher as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable and that the publication would meet the public interest requirement of declaring proper standards of the profession."