Teaching ban for pair who ran unregistered school

Two women who worked together at an unregistered Birmingham school have been banned from teaching following misconduct hearings.

A professional conduct panel heard that Patricia Ekhuemelo and Sylvia Sams were both involved with The Lambs Christian School.

Both women were banned from teaching after being convicted of running the unregistered school in 2024. A panel found Ekhuemelo actions raised serious safeguarding concerns, as pupils were being educated outside proper regulatory oversight.

The panel said her conduct risked undermining public confidence in the profession. A prohibition order was issued, preventing her from teaching, with a review period of three years.

The panel heard that Ekhuemelo, said to be the proprietor and principal, pleaded guilty to conducting an unregistered independent educational institution.

In a separate hearing, Sams was also banned after the panel found her conduct amounted to unacceptable professional behaviour while working at the same setting.

Sams was employed as the business manager and was also convicted of conducting an unregistered independent educational institution, the panel said.

In an email to the panel, Sams claimed she was not a teacher and "have no desire to be a teacher".

Evidence showed the original school was removed from the register earlier in 2023, but a new tuition centre was later set up and continued to educate children.

Inspectors who visited the site in February 2024 found 26 pupils on the premises, being taught a full curriculum while wearing school uniform.

The panel concluded this amounted to operating an unregistered independent school and found the allegation proven.

Both cases were considered by panels acting for the Teaching Regulation Agency, which oversees teacher misconduct in England.

The panels concluded that banning both women was necessary to maintain professional standards and protect pupils.

Both Sams and Ekhuemelo have 28 days from the issuing of the banning order to appeal to the High Court.

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