A TEACHER at a Newport primary school was banned from teaching after she failed to deliver lessons in line with the national curriculum and did not support the less able pupils in her care.

Vanessa Ann Purnell was found guilty of serious professional incompetence at a General Teaching Council of Wales hearing last week in relation to her teaching at Crindau Primary School.

The hearing was told that between October 2006 and December 2008 Mrs Purnell failed to take account of pupils’ previous learning and curricular requirements when planning lessons, and did not evaluate the progress of the children she was teaching.

This meant she failed to support pupils who were struggling, or develop the learning of the most able pupils.

Mrs Purnell was also found to have failed to mark pupils’ work in line with the schools’ marking and feedback policy, and did not modify her teaching to accommodate those pupils who required support.

She was also accused of not monitoring the amount of noise made by her classes, which meant the atmosphere in her classroom was not "conducive to learning".

The General Teaching Council of Wales found Mrs Purnell guilty of serious professional incompetence and imposed a prohibition order barring her from teaching with immediate affect.

She will be able to reapply to become a registered teacher after two years.

A spokesman for Newport City Council said Mrs Purnell’s contract was formally terminated in March 2009.

Head teacher of Crindau Primary School Sarah Davies said the decision by the General Teaching Council of Wales brought closure to what she described as “a long and difficult process for all concerned”.

She added: “More importantly it clearly demonstrates the commitment of the school, Newport City Council and the General Teaching Council of Wales to put the interests of children and young people at the heart of everything they do.”