A GWENT music teacher who admitted falsifying pupils' books ahead of an inspection has been suspended from teaching for one year.

Lyndon Powell worked at Oakdale Comprehensive School until April last year after it was discovered he put different names on six Year Seven pupils’ workbooks that were to be inspected.

Mr Powell appeared before the Education Workforce Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee in Cardiff this week.

He admitted deliberately falsifying pupils' books, acting dishonestly and that he had displayed "unacceptable professional conduct”.

The panel agreed and today suspended him for 12 months. Chair of the panel, Richard Parry Jones, said the sanction was necessary to “protect the interests of learners, the public and the profession”.

An internal investigation by Emma Paskell, business manager at the school, found Mr Powell had used workbooks from the previous year's pupils who were now in Year Eight.

He put sticky labels over the front cover and wrote new names and dates, but was discovered when pupils noticed it was not their work inside.

The actions all took place during the academic year 2013 to 2014.

But former paramedic Mr Powell, who qualified as a teacher in 2009 before taking up his first post at Oakdale, claims he was suffering from stress which caused a lapse in judgement.

In mitigation heard today, Mr Powell’s representative Carys Williams said: “To put it very simply, this was an absolute moment of madness.

“He accepts the devastating impact these actions could have had on the reputation of the school.

“While he was full of enthusiasm he unfortunately spread himself too thin and got his priorities in the wrong order. He has already paid a very heavy price; he’s lost the job he loved.”

But presenting officer Rhiannon Dale said: “Teachers are expected to act as a moral compass for pupils.

“He could have chosen not to submit the books, submit unmarked books or submit books with limited information.”

The sanction means Mr Powell, who has returned to his work as an emergency medical technician, cannot teach for a year but can reapply once the suspension is up.

Mr Powell told the panel on Monday he did not want his teaching career to finish and would like to “keep that door open”.