A FORMER Chepstow teacher who was cleared of 14 allegations of professional incompetence said finally justice has been done after nearly three of the hardest years of her life.

Kathy Currie, 54, was the head of English at Chepstow School from 1990 to 2013 before being dismissed. She worked at the school for 27 years.

A General Teaching Council for Wales panel cleared Mrs Currie of all allegations last month after they found the allegations not proven. The allegations included failing to ensure that data trackers were used effectively and failing to evaluate pupil progress and outcomes at key stages three, four and five.

Rhiannon Dale, presiding officer, at the hearing argued on behalf of the school, that Mrs Currie was responsible for a five year decline in English results in the school compared with the family cluster of similar schools. This was not proven by the panel.

She said: “Finally justice was seen to be done. It was a dreadful weight during that period - it was nearly three years of my life.

“The panel found there was no evidence for the allegations. There never was.”

“It knocked my confidence terribly. I was utterly devastated - it was the hardest time.”

She added: “Had it not been for the support of my fantastic family, friends and close colleagues - I’m not sure I would have carried on. They encouraged me to carry on in education.

“As well as being my occupation it’s the thing I love - it’s my life.”

She said it was a very difficult time in the English department from 2012 to 2013. She said the English department was under huge pressure to improve grades following the Estyn inspection of 2012 which showed a decline in standards in English and maths.

Three teachers from the English department including Mrs Curie were off work with stress for periods of that time partly because they were ‘overworked’ and were introducing a new scheme of work which was ‘unworkable’, the hearing was told.

She said: “It should have sent warning signals that something was not right. The duty of care perhaps is not what it should have been.”

A petition at the time of Mrs Currie's dismissal attracted more than 1,000 signatures in 48 hours in support of re-instating her as well as messages of support from former pupils and colleagues.

She worked as a supply teacher before becoming a teacher at Llantarnam School in Cwmbran where she was promoted to second in the English department. From September she will be teaching Key Stage 4 pupils at a Cardiff secondary school.

Mrs Currie said she felt that she was lucky as people knew her good reputation and were willing to take her on as a teacher despite the dismissal from Chepstow School.

She said she would welcome an independent investigation into the running of the school.

She said: “I think there is a concern with the number of redundancies and it’s important the situation as a whole is investigated.

“I was probably the worst example but I think there are wider issues than just me.”

She added: “I think there was a growing culture of fear in the school when I was there. People wouldn’t openly support me only close colleagues.”

Mrs Currie and Monmouthshire council agreed on a settlement before the case went to the employment tribunal.

Former teachers of Chepstow School are now calling for an independent inquiry into the school.