Crime & Safety
Oxford teacher who fiddled grades wants banning order ended
Anne Vendy, who was head of geography at Wheatley Park School near Oxford, was banned from teaching in 2014 for submitting marks for GCSE coursework that “bore no resemblance to the work itself”.
She was 35 years old at the time and was sacked from Wheatley Park School after submitting three missing 2012 marks in March 2013, sparking a school investigation.
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She had joined the school in September 2004 and was made head of geography in September 2010.
A National College for Teaching and Leadership professional conduct panel in 2014 found Ms Vendy also let students take home work which was meant to be completed under controlled conditions.
Over a decade on, a professional misconduct panel will, on April 28, consider an application to set aside Ms Vendy’s prohibition order.
In 2014, a report into the panel’s findings said: “Mrs Vendy’s behaviour involved sustained and repeated dishonesty.”
She admitted nine of the allegations including letting pupils take controlled assessment work home but indicated she “did not expressly” allow this.
She also admitted submitting controlled assessment marks for six pupils “which did not reflect the marks the work deserved”.
One pupil said she had the work at home when the grades were submitted meaning Mrs Vendy “could not feasibly have marked the work”.
An unidentified witness said the mark for another “bore no resemblance to the work itself” and deserved 15, not the 28 marks given.
The panel also heard how work presented from “student B” was identical to “student A”, who were not friends and gave statements they had not copied each other.
Mrs Vendy admitted accusing student B of cheating and said they were now “in a lot of trouble because [Vendy] had helped Student B”.
The report said: “The conduct of Mrs Vendy fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.”
It said Mrs Vendy – who was not represented at the hearing – showed unacceptable professional conduct and urged a ban with possible review.
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The secretary of state for education’s office said of the ban: “Three years would allow time to develop and demonstrate insight and remorse for her actions.”
Headteacher of Wheatley at the time, Kate Curtis, said: “The headteacher and governors scrutinised this case in great detail and we are pleased that as a result of vigilance in the school, the issues raised in the panel were addressed without any student’s GCSE results being affected.”
The pupils’ work had to be remarked and resubmitted but did not affect their final grades.
The government has opened a new fund for councils to fix neglected infrastructure around the UK.
Donnington Bridge is in need of around £4m worth of repair work having been closed to buses in 2024.
And a major project to replace the ageing Kennington rail bridge is being delayed due to a massive £71m funding shortfall.
Oxford Labour said some of the city’s bridges “are not in good shape” and welcomed the funding opportunity.
“We trust the county council will be applying to this fund and stepping up their surveying and repair work,” a party spokeswoman said.
Isis county councillor Brad Baines said: “We remain extremely concerned about the ongoing uncertainty over the future of Donnington Bridge.
“The county council has refused to commit to funding the reinforcement or replacement of the bridge or restoration of bus connections across it.”
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An inspection confirmed the bridge must be repaired or replaced before full‑sized buses can return.
Repairs could cost £4 million and take two years, while replacement might cost up to £30 million and take much longer.
The council said feasibility work on options is due by summer but expanding the service “would, unfortunately, be prohibitive.”
Oxford resident and campaigner Siobhan Lancaster added: “Residents in south and east Oxford need certainty about the future of this vital infrastructure and this new fund could provide that.
“We continue to call on the county council to provide this, apply to this fund and get the job done.”
Oxfordshire County Council’s spokesman said: “We welcome any extra money being made available for repairing structures such as this fund.
“Oxfordshire has many historic bridges and other infrastructure that is in need of attention and we will look into the criteria to make sure the county gets its fair share of this money.”
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander, who was a recent victim to one of Oxfordshire’s potholes, said: “Crumbling bridges and worn-out flyovers have been patched up rather than properly fixed for far too long, leading to frustrating weight limits and lengthy diversions.
“Every closed bridge is a barrier to growth; a blocked route to work, a delayed delivery, a family unable to reach the services they depend on.
“Councils have known what needs fixing for years but simply haven’t had the resources to act.
“We’re changing that, making sure structures are repaired properly, so people can live in properly connected communities.”
Funding decisions will be announced in autumn 2026, with all successful schemes required to complete works by March 2030.
The celebration will pay tribute to the air base, which has played a major role in British history.
First established in 1926, thanks to government support, it is a significant reminder of the country’s aviation heritage.
Historic England recognised the site in 2007 as the best-preserved example of interwar bomber stations in Britain.
The coming event will let attendees immerse themselves in this historical atmosphere, a hundred years since its creation.
Highlighting the celebration, the Bristol Scout bi-plane, an iconic figure from the past, will grace the event.
This will honour the many airmen who have touched down on this airfield, dating back to 1911, a period before RAF Bicester.
Vehicles from the era, including Britain’s leading classified car from the first British Grand Prix, will circle the Scout.
In August, the race celebrates its own centenary.
Other anticipated features are the Tank Museum’s 1920 Rolls-Royce Pattern, complete with 8mm thick armour and a .303 Vickers machine gun, reaching speeds up to 60mph.
Renowned manufacturers like Bentley and Vauxhall will showcase vehicles from their heritage fleets around Bicester Motion, with offerings from other noted contributors.
Visitors can explore Hangar 113 for the centenary display, indulge in afternoon tea, enjoy the Charlala singing trio, and observe a number of 1920s machinery from both land and air.
Former Spice Girl Lady Victoria and her husband, former England footballer Sir David Beckham, have lived in Oxfordshire for around a decade.
The couple, who have a Cotswolds mansion in Great Tew near Chipping Norton, have been embroiled in a public family feud for some time now.
In January, this came to a head as their eldest son, Brooklyn, made explosive allegations in a lengthy Instagram post.
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He claimed that his mother “hijacked” his first dance with his wife, Nicola Peltz, and danced “inappropriately on me” in front of their guests, adding that he had never felt more “uncomfortable or humiliated” in his life.
And he also alleged that his wife had been “disrespected” by his family and was not invited to his father’s 50th birthday party.
Now, Brooklyn Beckham has failed to wish his mother a happy birthday today (Friday, April 17) as the fashion icon turns 52 years old.
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Other members of the family, including Sir David and son Romeo, as well as her youngest son Cruz’s girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, all posted well-wishes to the matriarch across social media.
Brooklyn instead uploaded an Instagram video of him preparing “sweet jalapeño salmon with arugula walnut salad”.
His wife, Nicola Peltz, whom he married in 2022, also made no post regarding her mother-in-law’s birthday.
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