A TEACHER told her headmaster she was suffering from leukaemia to avoid having to answer to school inspectors.

Year one tutor Dawn Fitzsimons deceived staff and parents at Seaburn Dene Primary School, Sunderland, and missed lessons to attend non-existent hospital appointments to shirk a visit by Ofsted officials.

Miss Fitzsimons' lies were so convincing that headteacher Maxine Purdy offered to have her own bone marrow tested for donation.

She was found out when Mrs Purdy discovered she had used a similar trick at her previous school, Dame Dorothy's Primary, in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland.

She was banned from teaching for four years at a hearing of the General Teaching Council (GTC).

Speaking from her home in Shiney Row, Sunderland, Miss Fitzsimmons said: "I was shocked at the result of the hearing and intend to appeal. I feel I have not been given the opportunity to have my say."

In the week of the Ofsted inspection, which was successful, she missed three days.

GTC presenting officer Sheleen McCormack said: "Miss Fitzsimons created a complex web of deceit over a period of several months."

Panel chairman Christine Gale said: "The extent of the betrayal of the trust placed in her by the school and parents is difficult to overstate."

In a written statement read to the committee, Miss Fitzsimons admitted making a "great error" and apologised for her deceit.

She wrote: "It was absolute fear of the Ofsted inspection. Not because I was a bad or failing teacher, but because I was so frightened of the inspection due to my lack of confidence.