Katherine Hartigan

The headteacher of Cardinal Pole Catholic School in Homerton resigned yesterday (Dec 7) following a report into allegations over manipulating results.

Katherine Hartigan stepped down after teachers at the lower school in Victoria Park Road claimed they had been ordered to falsify assessment results, prompting an inquiry.

The Gazette exclusively revealed at the start of November that independent investigators had been called into the school to examine allegations made by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

The school received a ‘satisfactory’ rating from Ofsted last March, down from ‘good’ four years earlier.

It was claimed teachers were instructed to record data for pupils in years 7 to 9 last May, which would show monitoring Ofsted inspectors that achievements had improved.

The school denied any wrongdoing and the headteacher said the reports shed an “unwarranted shadow” over pupils’ achievements.

The inquiry, which is currently being finalised, was originally said to be due at the end of last month.

But in a letter to parents yesterday, Fr David Evans, chairman of the governors, said: “Katharine Hartigan has decided to resign as headteacher of Cardinal Pole School with immediate effect. After almost 30 years at the school, Katharine has decided to move on to pursue other interests.

“The Governing body and staff of the school send their best wishes to Katharine and her family. They thank her for all her hard work and wish her every success for the future.”