Indira Yagambrun, who worked at Romilly Primary School in Barry, was found guilty of dishonesty, lack of integrity, and bullying behaviour by the Education Workforce Council’s (EWC) Fitness to Practise Committee following a hearing into her professional conduct.
The EWC imposed a prohibition order, barring her from teaching indefinitely, though she may reapply to the register after two years.
The panel examined allegations spanning nearly 10 years, involving incidents with staff, parents, and volunteers.
Ms Yagambrun began working at Romilly Primary, then known as Romilly Junior School, in 2004 and was later promoted to deputy headteacher.
She was suspended in September, 2022, after concerns about her conduct were raised and later referred to the EWC by the school.
One of the upheld allegations involved Ms Yagambrun falsely telling the headteacher she was under police protection to avoid having her photograph on a safeguarding poster.
The committee found this statement to be untrue and concluded it was dishonest and lacked integrity.
Ms Yagambrun was also found to have intimidated a support worker by falsely telling her she was under investigation.
The staff member was called into an office, where the door was locked, and left believing she was under investigation for a long period of time.
The committee described the behaviour as “intimidating, unreasonable and bullying.”
Other proven allegations included repeatedly interrupting a newly qualified teacher during lessons, being dismissive when approached for help with pupil behaviour, and confrontational exchanges with a PTA member over a school fair and a proposed bouncy castle purchase.
The panel concluded some incidents amounted to “unacceptable professional conduct” and found her conduct had fallen short of the standards expected of a registered teaching professional.
In making its decision, the committee said the case raised “significant public interest considerations,” including the need to maintain public confidence in the teaching profession and ensure the protection of the public.
While noting Ms Yagambrun’s otherwise long career without previous disciplinary findings, the panel identified several aggravating factors.
These included a prolonged pattern of misconduct, a lack of insight, limited remorse, and behaviour that negatively affected multiple colleagues.
The committee considered and rejected lesser sanctions such as a reprimand, conditional registration order or suspension.
It concluded that a prohibition order was necessary due to the seriousness of the findings and the risk of similar behaviour being repeated.
The panel described her actions as “fundamentally incompatible” with continuing to be a registered teacher.
The prohibition order took effect on September 25.
Ms Yagambrun has the right to appeal the decision to the High Court within 28 days.
