Deputy head allowed to teach despite sex case

A deputy headteacher was allowed to teach in two schools after being accused of a string of sex offences.

Nigel Gordon Jackson, former deputy head of Seaford Head Community College, East Sussex, was referred to the Department for Education and Skills for inclusion on its "List 99" - which would have meant he was barred from teaching - but he was not registered.

Jackson admitted two charges of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency at Londonderry Crown Court on Monday. He was remanded until 24 February for sentencing.

His case comes to light as one of the country's largest education authorities, Essex County Council, revealed that fewer than half of the cases of teachers it referred for inclusion on 'List 99' had been registered.

In a 15-year period from 1992, only 54 of the 110 cases referred to the DfES ended up on the list. As a result, the authority started up its own "List 98" giving details of teachers it considered to be too dangerous to be allowed into the classroom - although it did not have the legal force of the Government's list.

Alison King, who chairs the Local Government Association's children's committee, said the Government had often been too slow to act on cases referred to it. "We have often waited months before any action is taken," she said. "It is less than satisfactory."

Jackson's case, revealed on ITV News last night, emerged as Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, faced fresh criticism over a Bill that would give schools more powers over pupil selection.

The proposed legislation, which has been criticised by John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, will come in for renewed attack next week by the Commons Select Committee on Education. The committee's report could further undermine confidence among Labour MPs in Ms Kelly, who has been embroiled in the row over the employment of sex offenders in schools.

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, gave her his backing yesterday but underlined the anxiety of the Government, saying it had "got to be sorted out because I understand as a parent the worries of parents".

He confirmed that discretion over sex offenders to continue teaching would be taken out of the hands of ministers. "I think you'll find that we'll introduce a far better system for the future and perhaps it's right that these decisions should not be made by politicians.

"They should be made by people who know more about these things on the ground," he said.

The Education Secretary will be fighting for her political career tomorrow when she tells the Commons how many teachers on a sex offenders list have been allowed to carry on teaching.

She will also announce emergency legislation to implement the findings of the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders, which could mean merging data on sex offenders across Government.

Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, said that any legislation to create a new sex offenders list would also cover care workers in the NHS.

The education committee is expected to underline growing concern among Labour MPs that the Bill will allow schools to cream off the best 11-year-old talent. A backbench Labour rebellion against selection will be stepped up tomorrow at the launch of a campaign to protect comprehensive schools led by reform opponents including Lord Kinnock and Fiona Millar, the partner of Alastair Campbell.

Downing Street yesterday denied that the Government had decided to delay the publication of the Bill in February but extensive talks are continuing over possible concessions to defuse any Labour rebellion when the key votes take place in March.

One ex-minister said: "There are some who are not interested in concessions. They are determined to cause trouble, and it's partly a vote against Blair. A lot of people are disenchanted, or feel they have a grievance." Mr Blair knows he could drive the Bill through with Tory support, but also recognises that it would be a humiliation that would hasten his departure.