A learning support worker who referred to ADHD as "naughty b*****d syndrome", a lecturer who caused death and serious injury by dangerous driving, and a support and youth worker arrested by Gwent Police on criminal charges of human trafficking, child abduction, and conspiracy to commit theft were among cases coming before professional standards committees this term. The Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales is tasked with maintaining standards of professional conduct among teachers and support staff in schools and colleges. The EWC can strike staff off, or impose official reprimands, if they find evidence of misconduct.
Fitness to practise panels were busy this term. In some cases they imposed reprimands and in others they struck people off the register meaning they cannot return to work in classrooms before a set period of time and without applying to re-register – and even then there's no guarantee.
Some hearings are held in private for child protection reasons and some are held in person but most have been held remotely since the coronavirus pandemic. These are the details and outcomes for EWC hearings held from January to early March 2023.
Martin Griffiths
Allowing a pupil to access his Amazon account during the school day and buying and giving a nose ring to a pupil saw school learning support worker Martin Griffiths slapped with a reprimand on his record.
An EWC hearing on January 11 and 12 found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proven against Griffiths. The fitness to practise committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school learning support worker at Ty Gwyn School, Griffiths, between around February 6, 2020, and February 11, 2020:
a) allowed Pupil D and Pupil K to access his Amazon account during the school day; and
b) purchased a nose ring for Pupil D or Pupil K; and
c) gave Pupil D and/or Pupil K the nose ring referred to at paragraph b).
The panel imposed a reprimand on Griffiths’ registration for two years until January 2025. He will be able to work as a registered school learning support worker during the time of the reprimand.
Zoe Griffith
Coleg Cambria further education teacher Zoe Griffith was struck off the teaching register for falsifying student grades. An EWC fitness to practise panel sitting from January 17 to 19 found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proven against her.
The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a further education teacher by Coleg Cambria, Griffith:
1. In relation to Pearson’s BTEC Level 2 in Business for the academic year 2020-2021, recorded, or allowed to be recorded, learner grades that were not based on completed and assessed learner work on:
a) December 4, 2020; and
b) February 4, 2021; and
c) March 3, 2021;
The panel found that Griffith's conduct “was dishonest and lacked integrity” and imposed a prohibition order indefinitely removing Griffith from the register of education practitioners in the category of further education teacher. It also decided she cannot apply to be reinstated on the register for two years.
John Taylor
Repeatedly pronouncing the surname of a student in way which emphasised sexual innuendo earned further education teacher John Taylor a reprimand. An EWC fitness to practise committee sitting from February 13-16 found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proven against him.
The panel found the following allegation proven, that whilst employed as further education teacher at Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Taylor:
between approximately September 2017 and December 2017, repeatedly pronounced the surname of Learner A in such a way as to emphasise sexual innuendo.
The committee deemed Taylor’s conduct was inappropriate and imposed a reprimand which will stay on his registration records for two years. Taylor will be able to work as a registered FE teacher during the reprimand period.
Stacey Angel
A school learning support worker who was arrested by Gwent Police on criminal charges of human trafficking, child abduction, and conspiracy to commit theft was banned from classroom. An EWC fitness to practise committee sitting on January 31 and February 1 and and 2 found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against Stacey Angel.
The panel found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school learning support worker at St Julian’s Primary School in Newport Angel:
1. On or about August 18, 2017, was served by police with a child abduction warning notice in respect of Child C.
2. On dates in 2017 or 2018:
a) asked Child A and/or Child C to steal for her; and
b) sent Child A photographs and/or lists of items to steal for her; and
c) would drive Child A and/or Child C to stores to steal for her.
3. On or about May 14, 2018, was arrested by Gwent Police on criminal charges of human trafficking, child abduction (in respect of Child C), and conspiracy to commit theft;
4. On May 15, 2018, was bailed to return to Newport Central Police Station on June 11, 2018.
Condition one of her bail stated “not to contact directly or indirectly, via electronic means or in person, or via a third party (Child A), (Child C) or (Person X)
5. Made contact with Child A via a third party, in breach of the conditions of her bail on;
b) June 13, 2018
6. Prior to July 20, 2018, her conduct at paragraphs two was in breach of the conditions of the child abduction warning notice in respect of Child C.
The committee indefinitely removed Angel from the register of education practitioners in the categories of school learning support worker. It also decided Angel cannot re-apply to be on the register for five years.
Paul Richard
A special school learning support worker who misled his head teacher about reasons for taking time off received an official reprimand. An EWC fitness to practise committee, sitting on February 28 and March 1, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against Paul Richard.
The panel found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school learning support worker at Woodlands High School in Cardiff, Richard:
1. Between around January 24, 2020, and February 6, 2020, provided inaccurate and/or misleading information to the head teacher in relation to his request for special leave of absence in that he;
(a) Stated that he required leave to attend court in respect of his sister, when this was not the case;
and
(b) Did not disclose that he was attending court as a potential witness for an individual who previously worked at the school.
The committee also decided that Richard's conduct "was dishonest and demonstrated a lack of integrity". The panel imposed a reprimand which will stay on his registration for two years. Mr Richard will be able to work as a registered school learning support worker during that time.
Matthew Phillip Vickery
Head teacher Matthew Phillip Vickery was reprimanded for failing to report a safeguarding issue involving a member of staff and an ex-pupil via the correct channels. An EWC fitness to practise committee sitting on February 28 and March 1 found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proven against Vickery.
The panel found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as headteacher at Ysgol Clywedog, Wrexham, Vickery:
1. in January 2021, received information of a safeguarding nature in respect of a teacher at the school and a former pupil and:
a) did not make a referral to the local authority designated officer at the time; and
b) did not notify the chair of governors at the time; and
c) instructed Colleague B to speak to the teacher and discuss the allegation with him.
The committee imposed a reprimand on Vickery’s registration as a school teacher for a period of two years. As such Vickery will be able to work as a registered person (school teacher) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the reprimand.
Iestyn Lloyd Jones
College lecturer Iestyn Lloyd Jones, who was jailed for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, was banned from the classroom. An EWC fitness to practise committee sitting on March 8 found allegations of relevant offences proved against him.
The panel found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a lecturer at Coleg Gwent, Jones:
1. on December 17, 2021, was convicted of:
a) causing death by dangerous driving on July 6, 2019, contrary to section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, on February 4, 2022, Jones was sentenced to a period of imprisonment of five years and six months;
b) causing serious injury by dangerous driving on July 6 2019, contrary to section 1A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, on February 4, 2022, Jones was sentenced to a period of imprisonment of two years nine months, to be served concurrently with the sentence imposed in respect of allegation 1(a).
The committee imposed a prohibition order indefinitely removing Jones from the register of education practitioners in the category of further education teacher and further education learning support worker. It also decided he may not apply to go back on the register before a period of four years and three months has elapsed.
Lynsey Bowen
Referring to ADHD as “naughty b*****d syndrome” and breaching confidentiality saw youth worker and school learning support worker Lynsey Bowen struck off the EWC register. An EWC fitness to practise committee sitting remotely on March 14, 15, and 16 found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proven against Bowen, who worked in Rhonnda Cynon Taf.
The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a youth worker at Rhonnda Cynon Taf County Borough Council:
1. On or around November 29, 2021:
a) Bowen did not maintain service user confidentiality in that she disclosed to Service User A and Service User C, the following information relating to another service user (Service User B):
i. Service User B’s name; and
ii. The street where Service User B lived; and
iii. Where Service User B went to school; and
iv. Personal information regarding Service User B’s mental health; and
v. Personal family information in that she said Service User’s B’s father had died.
b) during a conversation with Service User A and Service User C, she referred to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as “naughty b*****d syndrome”, or words to that effect; and c) she said to Service User A “If you don’t have a good time with me I’ll give you a slap”, or words to that effect.
2. Bowen’s conduct in allegation 1(a)(i) to 1(a)(v) above breached Rhondda Cynon Taf safeguarding policy and procedures for staff and Rhondda Cynon Taf data protection policy.
3. Bowen’s conduct in allegation 1(a)(i) to 1(a)(v) above was contrary to training and advice she received following previous concerns about disclosing personal and confidential information which led to a final written warning being given in February 2019.
4. The comment Bowen made in allegation 1(b) above was derogatory and offensive.
The panel imposed a prohibition order indefinitely removing Bowen from the register of education practitioners in the categories of youth worker and school learning support worker. It also decided Bowen may not make an application for restoration to the register for two years.
James Got Hing Lee
A supply teacher who sent inappropriate and intimidating emails to staff was banned from the classroom. An EWC fitness to practise committee, sitting on March 14 and 15, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proven against further education teacher, further education learning support worker, school learning support worker, and work-based learning practitioner James Got Hing Lee.
The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a supply teacher by Teacher Active, Lee:
1. on or around January 27, 2022, sent an email to members of staff at Cynffig Comprehensive School and a member of staff at Teacher Active which was inappropriate, in that Lee referred to:
a) being “bullied by lying accusations”;
b) “deceived, rebellious children – who lie”;
c) Teacher shortages not being so much of a problem if headmistresses supported their staff against false allegations;
d) “the Intractable [Child C] who wanted to kill at the school because of the occultic electronics brainwashing him”.
2. on or around February 9, 2022, sent an email to a member of staff at Teacher Active in relation to a head teacher at Cynffig Comprehensive School, which was inappropriate, in that Lee referred to “Liar False-Accusing Criminal Children”.
3. between May 2022 and December 2022 sent emails to various individuals and/or bodies which were inappropriate and intimidating:
a) in their content; and
b) in the number of emails sent.
4. from July 2, 2022, sent emails to members of Cynfigg Comprehensive School when Lee had been told on July 1, 2022, to make no further contact with any member of the school staff.
The committee imposed a prohibition order indefinitely removing Lee from the register of education practitioners in the category of further education teacher, further education learning support worker, school learning support worker, and work-based learning practitioner. He cannot apply to go back on the register for two years.
Julia Wheeler
A teacher who reduced pupils to tears by shouting in their faces and bragged about her sex life in the classroom was banned from teaching. Julia Wheeler, who was employed as an English teacher at Pencoed Comprehensive School, Bridgend, faced several allegations of inappropriate or derogatory behaviour towards pupils.
An Education Workforce Council (EWC) fitness to practise hearing from March 28-31 ruled that between January and May 2021 Wheeler was inappropriate and derogatory towards pupils, including calling them "d***heads", "b*****ds", and "f*****g b******s", and shouting in their faces.Wheeler was also found to have referred to a staff member as a "d***head", made inappropriate comments to pupils about her own relationships, and wrote the word "b*tch" next to a pupil's name on a mark sheet.
The committee found Wheeler's behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct . Only two of the allegations towards Wheeler – that she threw chairs off tables in a classroom and took pictures of her class to send to her daughter – were found not proven. Wheeler has been banned from teaching for two years after which she will be allowed to apply to re-join the register subject to a final decision from Education Workforce Council (EWC).
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