Nigel Duncan - Deputy head resigns after school probe into bogus application

Published: 23 July 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

THE deputy headteacher of a St John’s Wood secondary school has quit after a probe into claims he submitted bogus paperwork to get his children into a popular faith school in Fulham.

Nigel Duncan’s resignation was announced this week, just days after a nine-month investigation by governors at Quintin Kynaston School found against him for allegedly submitting bogus baptism certificates and church documents to support his application to the Roman Catholic primary school.

Mr Duncan, 43, has consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation. 

QK headteacher Jo Shuter, who had previously described him as “a man of integrity” said he had “done the right thing” by stepping down, thanking him for being a “wonderful teacher and role model.”

It is understood Mr Duncan, who taught  mathematics and PE during 13 years at qk, had been considering an appeal against the governors’ ruling. They had decided that a formal warning should be placed on his record. 

Given the intense media scrutiny of the case, Mr Duncan felt he could no longer remain in the position.

Ms Shuter said: “Nigel handed in his resignation to me yesterday to protect the reputation of the school and to protect his own integrity. 

“He felt it was unworkable to continue. 

“He has withdrawn the appeal, because he thought the media shadow would follow him around. 

“I did not try and persuade him, and we didn’t have a long conversation about it because he had made up his mind and I think he’s done the right thing.

“It’s sad, but it is down to me on behalf the school, governors and pupils to thank him publicly for all the work he has done over the last 13 years and to echo the sentiments of the Facebook group, set by pupils, and say he was a wonderful teacher and a great role model.”

Ms Shuter said the school would not be hiring a replacement because of the economic climate.

The panel of governors, overseen by Derek Wood QC, interviewed nuns and staff at the school where Mr Duncan’s children had been attending, Larmenier and Sacred Heart. 

It is understood the investigation heard that Mr Duncan had allegedly downloaded blank baptism certificates from the internet and copied a priest’s signature to win places at the oversubscribed school.

The West End Extra tried to contact Mr Duncan but he was not available to comment.