Sep 18, 2024
A drink driving teacher, a bullying teacher who called a child "a bit of a twat", a teacher who slapped a child and another who made smutty comments to children were among education staff struck off or disciplined in the last term of the school year. Others included staff with convictions for fraud and assault and a primary teacher who sent racist and/or offensive texts.
The Education Workforce Council Wales is responsible for maintaining professional standards in schools and colleges. Its role is to ensure education staff meet required standards and it aims to maintain public confidence in the system. The EWC held a number of fitness to practise hearings in the summer term 2024.
In the most serious cases the committees can ban teaching professionals from the classroom and this did happen during hearings last term. Other sanctions, if evidence of misconduct is found, can include official reprimands and placing conditions on registration, and some hearings are held in private for child protection reasons. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
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Education staff found guilty of relevant offences and misconduct by the EWC have the right to appeal to the High Court.
Here are the staff who came before EWC fitness to practise committees in the summer term 2024 and the findings and decisions of those committees:
A learning support worker convicted of drink driving, driving without insurance and causing serious injury by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road without due care and attention, was banned from the classroom. An Education Workforce Council Fitness to Practise Committee, sitting remotely on July 25 and August 13, 2024, found allegations of a relevant offence proved against school learning support worker, Molly Williams.
The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that Miss Williams:
The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Miss Williams from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided Miss Williams may not make an application for restoration to the Register of Education Practitioners for two years.
Slapping a child on the arm during an educational visit to Alyn Waters saw school learning support worker Alun Wyn Jones get conditions imposed on his professional registration. A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council, sitting remotely on June 11 and 12, 2024, has found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against Mr Rogers.
The committee found the following allegations proven:
That whilst employed as a school learning support worker at Ysgol Plas Coch in Wrexham, Mr Rogers, on March 22, 2022, slapped Child A on the arm whilst on an educational visit to Alyn Waters.
The panel imposed a Conditional Registration Order upon Mr Rogers’ registration as a school learning support worker with effect from June 12, 2024 for a period of six months, provided that Mr Rogers meets the conditions within this timeframe.
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Sending an "inappropriate" message on Facebook to a student earned an FE college lecturer a reprimad on her registration. An EWC Fitness to Practise Committee sitting remotely on July 16, 17 and 18 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against further education teacher, Glenda Irene Davies.
The Committee found the following allegations proven:
That whilst employed as a lecturer at Coleg Gwent. Miss Davies, during the evening of Sunday, May 29, 2022, sent a message to Learner A on Facebook.
The message sent to Learner A as set out at paragraph 1 above was inappropriate in that:
The committee imposed a Reprimand on Miss Davies’ registration as a further education teacher, school teacher, independent school teacher and school learning support worker for a period of 2 years (from 18 July 2024 to 18 July 2026).
As such, Miss Davies will be able to work as a:
A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting in private and remotely on July 15 and 16, 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school teacher, Leony Moira Hall.
The Committee found the following allegation proven:
That whilst employed as a school teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin, Carmarthen, Miss Hall, on or around May 17, 2022, hit and/or slapped Pupil A.
The committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Miss Hall’s registration as a school teacher for a period of 18 months (from 16 July 2024 to 16 January 2026), provided that she meets the conditions specified within this timeframe.
As such, Miss Hall will not be able to work as a school teacher in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the order.
A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting in private and remotely on July 9, and 10, 2024, found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school teacher and independent school teacher, Michael Robert Blackburn.
The committee found the following allegations proven:
That whilst employed as a School Teacher at St John’s College, Cardiff, Mr Blackburn
The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Mr Blackburn’s registration as a school teacher and independent school teacher for a period of 6 months (from 10 July 2024 to 10 January 2025), provided that he meets the conditions specified within this timeframe.
As such, Mr Blackburn will not be able to work as a school teacher in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales, or independent school teacher in or for an independent school in Wales for the period of the suspension.
A teacher who made smutty comments to pupils, winked at another pupil and made inappropriate comments and gestures was struck off. An Education Workforce Council fitness to practise committee, sitting remotely on June 24, 25 and 26, 2024, found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school teacher and school learning support worker, Adrian Roberts.
The committee found the following allegations proven: that Mr Roberts:
The panel imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Roberts from the Register of Education Practitioners in the categories of school teacher and school learning support worker. It also decided Mr Roberts may not make an application for restoration to the Register of Education Practitioners for two years.
An experienced teacher let students use calculators in maths exams on three occasions knowing it was against the rules. Robert Walker admitted it was "a free-for-all" with calculators on a desk for candidates to pick up or bring in their own.
One student at Bridgend College, who had missed his exam, asked if he could re-take it with Mr Walker in charge because "he let them cheat with calculators", a professional standards committee heard. When it was discovered exam rules were breached on three occasions all the candidates' results were declared invalid and the college launched an investigation.
The FE teacher, with 12 years experience at Bridgend College, admitted he allowed calculators to be used in non-calculator exams three times in spring, 2023. He apologised to the Education Workforce Council (EWC) fitness to practise committee saying he had been going "from one calamity to the next".
Walker told the committee he allowed calculators to be used knowing they were not permitted and "despite "my conscience screaming at me and I knew I should not be doing it". Rules saying calculators were not to be used for the Application of Number (AON) exams were clearly stated for the qualification which construction students took on screens at the college.
When it was discovered what had happened students were told their exam was void and must be retaken. That had a huge impact on them and the college with complaints from parents and loss of trust in the system, the panel heard.
The long-standing teacher said his students needed to pass AON, a City and Guilds qualification, to progress to the next level of their construction course at the college. This caused "huge pressure" to get them through and it was the first year of the qualification at the college.
Walker said he felt some students were "set up to fail" as the test was too hard for them and there was too little time for revision. But he fully admitted what he had done was wrong and told the panel: "I made the huge mistake of allowing calculator use in non-calculator assessments."
The teacher added: "My actions have fallen well short of professional standards and my own conscience – teachers are in a position of trust and integrity. I have not made excuses – there is no justification. I feel deep regret and remorse." Walker, who has worked as self-employed maths tutor since losing his job at the college after an investigation into the matter, said he had put the career he loved at risk. He apologised to students affected, their parents, the college, and former colleagues.
"The students in my three classes have been affected hugely. Either they had to come back and retake after college or do [the exam again] in the next year of college," he told the panel. "The students must be feeling mistrust in lecturers, the college, and education. I feel guilty they have now been told the test did not count and they had to retake it – they must feel stressed and annoyed."
The panel was told Mr Walker was aware of the requirements of the assessment. But his actions allowing students to take in calculators were not pre-planned. "Walking into the room there was no thought – then it was a quick reaction to the question: 'Are calculators allowed?'," he told the hearing, adding: "I can't believe how stupid I was. It was panic – it was not thought through."
Nonetheless Walker went on twice more to let calculators be used in two more exams. He said he did this because another learner "caught wind" from a friend that he'd allowed calculators and acceded to another request.
The panel, sitting remotely from June 24 to 26, found the following allegations against Walker proved. That:
The commitee heard Walker was a respected maths teacher with a previous good record and unblemished career at Bridgend College. They heard various character references saying what a good maths tutor and reliable colleaague he was.
Imposing a reprimand on his registration with the EWC panel chairman Robert Newsome told the FE teacher his actions had fallen short of expectations of a registered person: "This was a serious matter. Mr Walker's behaviour was unacceptable and must not happen again," he said.
Walker will remain registered with the EWC as an FE teacher during the reprimand, which will stay on his record for two years from June 26, 2024.
Leaving a child unaccompanied saw school learning support worker Charlotte Ann Farrel receive a reprimand on her registration. An Education Workforce Council Fitness to Practise Committee, sitting in private and remotely on June 17, 2024, found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against her.
The committee found the following allegations proven: That on July 25, 2022, a child in Ms Farrell’s care was left unaccompanied and, as a result, Ms Farrell accepted a caution for an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.
The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Ms Farrell’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 2 years (from 17 June 2024 to 17 June 2026). As such, Ms Farrell will be able to work as a registered person (school learning support worker) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the Reprimand.
A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on June 3, 4 and 5, 2024, found allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school learning support worker, Allison Davies. The panel found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a teaching assistant at St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School, Swansea Mrs Davies:
Having found this proved the panel agreed Mrs Davies’s conduct was dishonest. It imposed a reprimand on Mrs Davies’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 2 years (from June 5, 2024, to June 5, 2026). As such, Mrs Davies will be able to work as a registered person (school learning support worker) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the Reprimand.
A “bullying” and “aggressive” teacher who called a pupil “a bit of a t***” has been banned from the classroom. Katie Walsh, a teacher and foundation phase lead at Raglan Primary School in Monmouthshire, was struck off the teaching register by a professional standards committee.
Her behaviour towards colleagues had been intimidating, undermining, derogatory, bullying, rude, and patronising on a number of occasions, a fitness to practise committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC) found. The panel, sitting remotely on May, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2024, judged Walsh's behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.
Striking her off the teaching register the EWC panel decided Walsh may not apply to be restored to it for two years. If she doesn't successfully convince the EWC she is suitable to re-join she will be banned indefinitely.
The EWC committee found proven allegations that while employed as a school teacher and foundation phase lead at Raglan Primary School Walsh:
Finding the allegations proven at remote hearing the fitness to practise committee indefinitely removed Walsh from the EWC’s register of education practitioners in the category of school teacher.
A teacher who slapped, grabbed and held a person to the floor was struck off and banned from the classroom. Richard Coombs, who worked at Monnow Primary in Newport, also sent racist and/or offensive texts and sent the person he attacked a text message saying: “I wish I punched you so you never woke up”, a professional standards hearing was told.
The panel found a string of allegations against him proved and struck him off the Education Workforce Council Wales register. Coombs cannot re-apply to join the register for three years and then only if he convinces a new committee he is fit to do so.
The four-day long virtual EWC hearing was held in private, which the EWC said was to protect a vulnerable witness. But the allegations and outcome were public with Coombs’ victim named only as “Person A” to protect their identity.
During the hearing, held remotely from May 21-24 2024, the panel found the following allegations against Coombs proved:
1. That between June, 2021 and March, 2022 he acted in an inappropriate manner and/or used excessive force towards Person A, in that on more than one occasion he:
* grabbed Person A’s arm(s) and/or wrist(s);
* threw and/or pushed Person A;
* held and/or grabbed Person A’s throat and/or neck;
* pushed and/or squeezed Person A on the side of the head;
* slapped Person A on the face and/or nose;
* pinned and/or held Person A to the floor.
2. In or around August, 2021, sent Person A a text message that said “I wish I punched you so you never woke up”.
3. Between September, 2021 and January, 2022, sent text message(s) that were racist and/or offensive in nature.
A further allegation that Coombs held and/or pushed Person A’s head against a wall was found not proven by the panel. The committee judged the allegations found proved amounted to unacceptable professional conduct by Coombs.
Announcing the outcome, the EWC said: “The hearing has taken place in private as the committee determined that the circumstances of this case were such that the exclusion of the public was necessary to protect the interests of a vulnerable witness and in the interests of justice.” But its rules state that even when a hearing takes place in private, the outcome must be announced in public.
Drink driving and intending to turn up at work under the infuence of alcohol saw school teacher and school learning support worker Gwenan Haf Parry get an official reprimand on her professional registration.
An EWC hearing on June 3, 2024, found allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ and ‘a relevant offence against her proved.
The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a teaching assistant at Ysgol Gynradd Y Felinheli, Miss Parry:
The EWC panel slapped her with a reprimand which will stay on her record for two years (until May 23, 2026). As such, Miss Parry will be able to work as a registered person (school teacher and school learning support worker) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the reprimand.
Calling a learner a "wimp", telling him he didn't like him and that he'd make his life "a misery", or words to that effect, saw further education learning support worker Alun Wun Jones get an official reprimand.
An EWC Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr Jones, whilst employed as an Instructor Demonstrator at Coleg Sir Gâr, on occasions between 2020 and 2022, demonstrated threatening and/or inappropriate behaviour towards learners in that he:
The panel imposed a reprimand on Mr Jones’ registration as a further education teacher, further education learning support worker, and work-based learning practitioner for a period of 2 years (from May 15, 2024, to May 15, 2026).
As such, Mr Jones will be able to work as a registered person in:
A learning support worker convicted of assault and fraud was struck off by the Education Workforce register after failing to notify them of the convictioons.
A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on May 14 and 15, 2024, found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and a relevant offence proved against further education learning support worker and school learning support worker, Dee Jones.
The Fitness to Practise Committee found that:
1. Mrs Jones had four times applied to the EWC to register as a school or further education learning support worker between November, 2018 and March 21 and indicated on each application, in the declarations section, that she did not have any convictions, when this was incorrect.
2. On April 23, 2015, Jones was convicted at Gwent Magistrates Court of two offences of “fail to disclose information to make gain for self/another or to cause loss to other/expose other to a loss” in that she:
Between September 5, 2013 and August 6, 2014, at Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, committed fraud by dishonestly failing to tell the Department for Work and Pensions that she was living with a partner as a common household, which she was under a legal duty to disclose, intending, by that failure, to make a gain, namely benefits, for herself. She was sentenced to a conditional discharge for three years.
Between September 9, 2013, and August 10, 2014, at Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, committed fraud in that she dishonestly failed to disclose to Blaenau Gwent Council that she was living with a partner maintaining a common household, which she was under a legal duty to disclose, intending, by that failure, to make a gain, namely benefits, for herself.
As a consequence, she was sentenced to a conditional discharge for 3 years.
On September 2, 2019, was convicted at Glamorgan Valleys Magistrates’ Court of common assault. The court heard that on July 28, 2019 she assaulted “person A” at Llangorse and was sentenced to a community order, unpaid work for 80 hours, and ordered to pay compensation of £50.
Having found these allegations proved the committee agreed Jones’ conduct was dishonest and lacking in integrity. The panel indefinitely removed her from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of further education learning support worker and school learning support worker.
The panel also agreed Jones may not apply to be put back on the register for two years.
An experienced college lecturer who said he “fancied the pants” off a student has had a formal reprimand for giving her a handwritten note and his phone number with a view to developing a relationship. Julian Fuge admitted in an internal investigation by Gower College Swansea that he had given the mature student a note and his personal phone number in the college, a professional standards committee heard.
The second year student, who was not being taught by Fuge at the time but was due to be, said his actions were not the reason she left the course and had not affected her or her studies, the Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel was told. But the committee found the lecturer’s actions were “sexually motivated” and giving the student the note did have the potential to affect her and her education even though she said it had not.
Hairdressing lecturer Fuge, who had worked at Gower College for 16 years before the “moment of madness” in autumn, 2022, told the previous college investigation he regretted his actions and had been experiencing some personal difficulties at the time, the committee heard. But he told senior staff he was not aware that lecturers could not form friendships with adult students and had not intended anything romantic by handing her the note saying: “We can meet up for a chat about what we feel about each other and where you and I want it to go.”
The EWC fitness to practise committee, sitting remotely on May 9, found three allegations against Fuge proven: that in or around October, 2022 he gave a hand-written note to Learner One with a view to developing a personal relationship with them; that he wrote his personal phone number and/or the words: “We can meet up for a chat about what we feel about each other and where you and I want it to go”; and that the alleged conduct was sexually motivated. They found the behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct. The committee agreed to amend the wording, originally stated incorrectly in allegations during the opening of the case on May 9 in which the word “it” had been wrongly omitted from the note.
The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Fuge’s registration as a further education teacher for a period of 2 years (from 9 May 2024 to 9 May 2026). As such, Mr Fuge will be able to work as a registered person (further education teacher) who provides specific services in or for a further education institution in Wales.
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