Former headteacher Rowena Brace, 62, who lives at the Lea, Ross-on-Wye, was reprimanded by a tribunal which upheld three complaints of unacceptable professional conduct against her - but she is still allowed to teach.

In one instance an 11 year old pupil at Hope Brook Primary School, Longhope in the Forest of Dean, was left in agony while she ignored him and continued to eat her lunch. It was also proved that she gave pupils extra time to sit SATs exams and altered test scores to make the school look better.

Other teachers at the school where she was head between 2001 and 2007 said they did not dare step in because 'bullying' Brace had instilled a climate of fear. She was sacked in 2007 after complaints.

Ex-colleagues said they were 'intimidated' and former acting deputy Isobel Hollis said she was too afraid to help the lad, who was injured playing football.

She said: "Pupils knocked on the staffroom door and said 'quick, quick', but Mrs Brace continued to eat lunch. The pupil was on the ground, pale and shaking."

Brace denied misconduct at a General Teaching Council tribunal in Birmingham Birmingham tribunal.

Brace sobbed as she was reprimanded - the lowest punishment possible and said: "I still have a lot to offer to the teaching profession."

The tribunal was reported in many national newspapers and on websites and many readers added their own comments. One of these was posted by someone called melodytoon. She said:?"There are many good teachers and many bad ones. Whatever the failings of this headteacher, the teachers who worked under her have a lot to answer for too.