Former head avoids teaching ban

Paul Sylvester, 56, failed to follow welfare procedures designed to protect children - including not conducting criminal record searches on new staff, a disciplinary panel ruled.

He also failed to follow guidelines when one member of staff threatened to 'torch' an early years assistant's house.

Mr Sylvester, who became headteacher in November 1997, appeared before a professional conduct panel of the Teaching Agency.

Full story in this week's Hoyland edition.