Ryde headteacher who changed term dates to go on cruise banned

Ballard was found to have changed school term dates in the 2023-24 academic year to accommodate for a personal cruise holiday, something which the panel labelled as “dishonest”.

In 2022, she used school funds to purchase a Peugeot 5008, which was needed “to reduce the taxi costs associated with transporting children to alternative provision on the Isle of Wight” the panel heard.

Ballard admitted to regularly using the vehicle for commuting to work and for a personal trip to France in 2024.

Among the findings was evidence that she had failed to follow proper procedures for handling and banking school cash and used school funds to buy camping equipment, a karaoke machine and televisions that were later found to have limited benefit to the school.

“If parents and the community became aware of a headteacher using their position in this way, they would find this really concerning,” the panel said.

The Secretary of State’s decision to ban Ballard stated: “The findings of misconduct are serious as they include a headteacher behaving in a way which was dishonest and lacking in integrity.”