Teacher at £25k-a-year Private School Banned for Dishonesty and Falsifying Qualifications

Nicholas Martin, formerly Head of Sixth Form at St Edward’s School in Cheltenham—a prestigious private institution charging £25,000 per year—has been permanently banned from teaching after a thorough investigation revealed multiple instances of dishonesty.

Martin, aged 43, was found to have deliberately falsified key personal and professional details in his applications for senior roles within the school. The discrepancies came to light when he applied for the role of Deputy Head (Operations and Compliance) in 2025, prompting a detailed inquiry that uncovered further falsehoods dating back to a 2024 application for Head of Sixth Form.

Among the deceitful claims, Martin asserted he was born in 1987, effectively presenting himself as five years younger than his actual 1982 birth year. More crucially, he professed to hold a Master’s degree in history from the University of Cambridge—a claim disproven by direct confirmation from the university. His genuine qualification was a Master’s degree in history from Lancaster University. In an audacious move, Martin supplied a forged Cambridge degree certificate, which he said he displayed proudly at home, to support his false claim.

Further compounding his misconduct, Martin falsely stated that he regularly served as a Magistrate, an assertion contradicted by official HM Courts and Tribunals Service records. He also used the post-nominals “MA (Cantab)” and “JP” in his email signature, enhancing the appearance of credibility.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) detailed that Martin’s actions were deliberate, repeated, and sustained over time. During disciplinary proceedings on March 31, 2025, he admitted to fabricating his age, forging academic documents, and misrepresenting his judicial role. Martin claimed his motivation was to appear “younger, more dynamic, and more fun.”

The TRA concluded that Martin’s misconduct was serious enough to warrant an indefinite ban from teaching in any educational setting in England, including schools, sixth-form colleges, youth accommodations, and children’s homes. He may apply for the ban to be lifted after two years.

St Edward’s School emphasized its commitment to professional integrity and safeguarding. Headteacher Anna Sandford-Squires affirmed that all proper procedures were followed once concerns arose and expressed dedication to maintaining trust and transparency with pupils, parents, and the wider community.