Head backs deputy who 'lied to get his children into school'

The deputy headteacher accused of lying to get his children into a top faith school today won the public backing of his boss.

Nigel Duncan's two children have been forced out of Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic primary in Hammersmith after the school found their applications were fraudulent.

Jo Shuter, head of the comprehensive where Mr Duncan works, said he was a "fantastic" colleague with "a huge amount of integrity".

A former "headteacher of the year", Ms Shuter told the Standard that Mr Duncan played a major part in helping her turn around the fortunes of Quintin Kynaston School in St John's Wood.

Half of the school's pupils come from some of the poorest homes in the country, and 40 per cent have learning difficulties. But Ofsted has judged the 1,400-pupil comprehensive to be "outstanding" and praised Ms Shuter and her deputy.

"As a deputy head, Nigel has been fantastic," Ms Shuter said. "I can't fault him. He has a huge amount of integrity. He works incredibly hard and he has always been there for the kids." Larmenier & Sacred Heart attracts three applications for every place. The school gives priority to "baptised children from practising Catholic families who are resident in the parish of Brook Green". But an investigation by the school's governors found that the Duncans' applications were false.

Ms Shuter confirmed that Mr Duncan would undergo disciplinary action to establish whether he has brought Quintin Kynaston into disrepute but he will not be suspended during the inquiry.

Ms Shuter said: "This can ruin somebody's career. I just feel terribly sorry for him. He doesn't deserve this. But having said that, whatever happened, his children got into a school they were not necessarily supposed to get into and that needs to be pursued."

Mr Duncan, 42, denied the allegations. The case follows a Standard investigation last week that found hundreds of parents in London cheat on school application forms.

Mr Duncan, who lives in Fulham, could not be reached for comment.