All the school and college staff struck off or disciplined last term in Wales

An FE tutor who took cocaine into the college where he worked was among education staff disciplined and banned in the first term of the academic year in Wales. Other offences that saw school and college staff brought before professional standards commitees included theft, disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual images with intent to cause distress, calling a colleague a "psycho b****" and failing to disclose court convictions.

Cases before the Education Workforce Council Wales professional standards committees saw some staff struck off and banned from the classroom while others were allowed to continue working but with official reprimands placed on their registration. The EWC’s role is to maintain and standards of professional conduct among teachers and support staff in schools and colleges.

Its professional standards panels have powers to strike staff off the EWC education professional register, or impose official reprimands, if evidence of misconduct is found.

Some hearings are held in private for child protection or other reasons and some parts of some hearings are held in private for a number of other legal reasons. The allegations, findings and final rulings of each case are published online by the EWC.

Most hearings are held remotely online and the standards commitees include lay members as well as former and current school and college staff with the help of legal advisors and EWC support staff.

These are the outcomes of EWC hearings held between September and December 2024:

Aaron Phillips

A school teaching assistant was cautioned by police for disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual images with intent to cause distress. Aaron Dean Phillips, who was working at Ysgol Penglais in Aberysywyth at the time, was banned from the classroom after failing to inform the Education Workorce Council Wales that he had accepted the police caution.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr Phillips:

• On 10 June 2022, accepted a caution from Dyfed-Powys Police for ‘disclosing/threatening to disclose private sexual photographs and film with intent to cause distress on January 1 2022.
• Did not inform the EWC that he had been cautioned for the offence of disclosing/threatening to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress

Having made these findings, the committee judged Mr Phillips’ conduct in paragraph two above was dishonest and demonstrated a lack of integrity. The panel indefinitely removed him Mr Phillips from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided he may not make an application for restoration to the register before two years has elapsed. If he does not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after September 4 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

Louise Thomas

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on September 10 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school learning support worker, Louise Thomas.

The panel found the following allegations proven, that Ms Thomas: on April 6 2018, accepted a caution from Gwent Police for theft from person on February 15 2018

The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Ms Thomas from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided she may not apply to be restored to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Ms Thomas not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after 10 September 2026, she will remain prohibited indefinitely.

Samuel Harvey

A military training instructor was slapped with a reprimand after he told teenage pupils he was looking forward to spending the night with his partner after she had got lip filler, among other allegations. A professional standards committee heard that Samuel Harvey made a series of inappropriate comments to teenagers while working in a pupil referral unit in Pembrokeshire.

The Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales fitness to practise committee also found it proved that Harvey, who worked at Pembrokeshire Learning Centre, had offered a pupil free entry to a nightclub, told a learner he had been arrested over the summer, and accused another learner of starting a fire in a multi-storey car park. Harvey – who was employed as an instructor with the Military Preparation College for Training, which is now known as the Learning Curve Group – was also found to have left a vape pen on a school desk while learners were in the room.

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council sitting remotely on September 10, 11 and 12 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Samuel Harvey.

The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a MPCT Schools Lead Instructor Teacher at Learning Curve Group, Mr Harvey:

• in or around September 2022, made one or more of the following inappropriate comments to learners, or whilst in their presence in that he:

• advised a learner that he had been arrested over the summer

• offered a learner free access to the Loft nightclub
• told learners words to the effect of he was looking forward to going home and spending the night with his wife and/or partner after she had got lip filler
• accused a learner of starting a fire in a multi storey car park.

The committee imposed a reprimand upon Mr Harvey’s registration as a work based learning practitioner for a period of two years (from 12 September 2024 to 12 September 2026). As such, Mr Harvey will be able to work as a registered person (work based learning practitioner) who provides services for or on behalf of a work based learning body (other than as a volunteer) in Wales for the period of the reprimand.

Timothy John

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on September 23 and 24 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Timothy John.

The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Training Officer at Cambrian Training, Mr John:

• between 2020 and 2022, on one or more occasion, submitted a progress achievement record for a learner when it did not occur
• between 2020 and 2022, on one or more occasion, created false documents to support that the progress achievement record for a learner had taken place

Having made these findings, the committee also determined that Mr John’s conduct at paragraphs 1 and 2 above was dishonest and lacking in integrity.

The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr John from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of work-based learning practitioner. It also decided he may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Mr John not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after September 24 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

David Sweet

A teacher, who was head of behaviour and safeguarding at a large secondary school, went off sick rather than tell his school he was going to court on a charge of threatening behaviour. David Sweet was caught out years later when he was summoned to court again for a further offence of drink driving.

Sweet, who was found guilty and convicted of both offences, taught at Ysgol John Bright in Llandudno at the time. He was Head of KS4 behaviour and safeguarding as well as a PE teacher at the school, where he had been employed since 2005.

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on October 2 and 3 2024, has found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and a relevant offence proved against Mr Sweet. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school teacher at Ysgol John Bright, Mr Sweet:

• on June 18 2018, was convicted at Cheshire Magistrates’ Court of using threatening/abusive words/behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment/alarm on 25 March 2018 and fined £225
• on June 30 2022, was convicted at North East Wales Magistrates’ Court of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol on June 1 2022 and was a disqualified from driving for 24 months and fined £1,071
• on or around July 15 2016 and/or June 18 2018, provided inaccurate information to the school about the reasons for his absence from work in that he reported that he was unwell, when he was in fact attending court
• on or around July 15 2016 and/or June 18 2018, failed to disclose to the school that he had received a criminal conviction(s)

Having made the above findings, the committee also determined that Mr Sweet’s conduct at paragraphs 3 and 4 above was dishonest and lacked integrity. The committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Sweet’s registration as a school teacher for a period of two years (from 3 October 2024 to 3 October 2026). As such, Mr Sweet 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.

Martin Lofthouse

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely from September 30 to October 3 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against further education teacher, Martin Lofthouse.

The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a lecturer at Gower College Swansea Mr Lofthouse, on June 7 2023:

• blocked Learner A from leaving the classroom
• made inappropriate and/or unnecessary contact with Learner A, in that they grabbed and/or held Learner A by the arm and/or shoulder
• shouted at Learner A

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Lofthouse’s registration as a further education teacher for a period of two 2 years (from October 3 2024 to October 3 2026). As such, Mr Lofthouse 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 for the period of the reprimand.

James Jones

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on September 30 and October 1 to 4 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school teacher, James Jones.

The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a deputy headteacher at Wats Dyke Primary School, Wrexham, Mr Jones engaged in inappropriate use of social media on a number of occasions in that:

• on or around 17 January 2022, he shared two videos to all subscribed parents on the school SeeSaw app which showed pupils in his Year 1/2 class sharing personal and/or confidential information in that:
• video 1 showed pupils sharing pupils’ spelling score results in September 2021 following their spelling score result in January 2022
• video 2 showed pupils’ spelling score result number increase from September 2021 to January 2022
• on or around 18 January 2021, he shared his class SeeSaw blog page to his public Facebook account.

Having made these findings, the committee also determined that Mr Jones’ conduct at 1 and 2 breached confidentiality. The committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Jones’ registration as a school teacher for a period of two from October 4 2024 to October 4 2026. As such, Mr Jones 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.

Kristen Evans

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council sitting remotely from October 14-16 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Kristen Evans.

The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as an Assessor with ACT Training Ltd, Mr Evans:

• between October 2022 and May 2023, acted in an inappropriate manner towards Colleague A in that he was rude and/or aggressive towards her and/or did not cooperate with her
• between March and May 2023, did not make contact with health and social care core learner(s) and/or progress their work, despite informing his manager(s) during weekly and/or monthly meetings that he had done so
• on 26 February 2020, applied to register with the EWC as a work-based learning practitioner and did not declare in the application form that he had been previously convicted.

Having made the above findings, the committee also determined that Mr Evans’ conduct at paragraphs 2 and 3 above was dishonest and lacked integrity.

The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Evans from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of work-based learning practitioner. It also decided Mr Evans may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Mr Evans not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after October 16 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

Leah Johns

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on October 24, 25, 28 and 29 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct and an allegation of a relevant offence proved against further education teacher, Leah Johns.

The committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Ms Johns’ registration as a further education teacher for a period of 12 months (from 29 October 2024 to 29 October 2025), provided that she meets the conditions specified within this timeframe. As such, Ms Johns will not be able to work as a registered person (further education teacher) who provides specific services in or for a further education institution in Wales for the period of the suspension order.

Phillip Lewis

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on November 19 and 20 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against further education learning support worker, Phillip Lewis. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a tutor at Pembrokeshire College, Mr Lewis:

• on or around 18 January 2023, accepted a conditional caution from Dyfed-Powys Police for being in possession of a controlled drug, cocaine, on November 23 2022.
• on November 23 2022, was in possession of a class A drug, cocaine, during working hours on Pembrokeshire College premises

The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Lewis from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of further education learning support worker. It also decided Mr Lewis may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should Mr Lewis not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after November 20 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

Melanie Morgan

An experienced teaching assistant who called vulnerable children in her care "little s****" and locked one or more out of the classroom was banned from the profession. Melanie Morgan also swore in front of the children aged five to 11 in her class at Pantside Primary School in Newbridge, a professional standards hearing was told.

Melanie Morgan worked in one of the two classes at the school's special resource base for children with additional learning needs, an EWC Fitness to Practise committee of the Education Workforce Council heard. Some of the pupils in her care had autism and some were non-verbal but understood what she was saying and the tone used according to colleagues who said they witnessed the swearing and pupils being locked outside.

The committee, sitting remotely on November 26, 27 and 28 November 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against her. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Teaching Assistant by Caerphilly County Borough Council at Pantside Primary School, Miss Morgan:

• In or around March 2022, acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner in that:
• in front of and/or to pupils she said “f****** hell” and/or “f*** this” and/or “little s****”, or words to that effect
• she said “which one of you has s***? Let me check a***”, or words to that effect
• after checking the underwear of Pupil A and/or Pupil B, she said “f****** hell it stinks”, or words to that effect
• in response to a learner crying, she said “he’s doing my f****** head in, all he’s done is cry”, or words to that effect
• in response to being asked whether Pupil D would want a breadstick she said “does a bear s*** in the woods?”, or words to that effect
• in response to a learner crying, she mimicked crying by pulling a sad face and/or clenched her fists and rubbed them near her eyes

The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Miss Morgan from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided Miss Morgan may not make an application for restoration to the register before a period of two years has elapsed. Should she not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after November 28 2026, she will remain prohibited indefinitely.

Chloe Munn

An inexperienced and unqualified teaching assistant who left five-year-old pupils alone by a lake and a car park on a school trip received a reprimand but can continue to work, a professional standards panel ruled. Chloe Munn, who worked at Llandough Primary School, had not been given guidance on how to take children to the toilet on the trip to Cosmeston Lakes when she left three of them unaccompanied, an Education Workforce Council Wales committee found.

Announcing its delayed decision after a hearing in November, the panel said that a risk assessment for the trip did not address how children should be taken to the toilet and Miss Munn had not been given clear instructions. There was also no evidence she had received on the job training at Llandough Primary.

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on November 5 to 8, and 29 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school learning support worker, Chloe Munn. The committee found the following allegations proven:

• that whilst employed as a school learning support assistant at Llandough Primary School, Miss Munn, during a school trip on or around April 18l 2023, left three pupils unaccompanied outside a toilet, and/or did not make other staff aware that she would be going into the male toilets. In doing so, Miss Munn failed to safeguard pupils.

The committee imposed a Reprimand on Miss Munn’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of two years (from November 29 2024 to November 29 2026). As such, Miss Munn 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.

Richard Stratton-Thomas

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on December 2, 3 and 4 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Mr Richard Stratton-Thomas.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven:

• that whilst employed as a freelance tutor at INSPIRE Training (GE) Ltd, Mr Stratton-Thomas, on 25 July 2023, allowed Learner A to stay overnight at his house and did not report concerns about Learner A to Inspire Training or Social Services.

The committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Stratton-Thomas’s registration as a work-based learning practitioner for a period of 2 years (from December 4 2024 to December 4 2026). As such, Mr Stratton-Thomas will be able to work as a work-based learning practitioner, who provides services for or on behalf of a work-based learning body (other than as a volunteer) in Wales for the period of the reprimand.

Anthony Morris

A college carpentry supervisor who “tapped” a colleague on the bottom and failed to disclose convictions for destroying or damaging property was struck off the education work register. Antony Morris failed to disclose the convictions when he applied to register with the Education Workforce Council Wales and now the council has barred him indefinitely

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on December 17, 18 and 19 December 2024, found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and relevant offence proved against further education learning support worker, Anthony Morris.

The committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr Morris:

• in or around November 2022, engaged in inappropriate physical contact with Colleague A in that he tapped their buttocks
• between August 2022 and May 2023, demonstrated poor timekeeping in that on more than one occasion, he:
• arrived at the College later than his contracted start time
• left the College earlier than his contracted finish time
• between August 2022 and May 2023, demonstrated poor maintenance of the workshop in that on more than one occasion, he left machines untidy
• on 3 June 2022, submitted an application to the EWC to register in the category of Further Education Learning Support Worker, and indicated in the declarations section that he did not have any convictions, when this was incorrect
• on 2 October 2023, submitted an application to the EWC to register in the category of work based learning practitioner, and indicated in the declarations section that he did not have any convictions, when this was incorrect
• on 21 April 2017, was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property and as a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, was sentenced to a community order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018. He was further ordered to pay £281.75 in compensation
• on April 21 2017, was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property and as a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, was sentenced to a community order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018
• on April 21 2017, was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property, and as a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, was sentenced to a Community Order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018. He was further ordered to pay £458 in compensation
• on 21 April 2017, was convicted at Conwy Magistrates’ Court of destroying or damaging property and as a consequence of this offence, on April 28 2017, was sentenced to a community order and required to carry out 250 hours unpaid work by October 27 2018/
• on December 22 2017, was convicted at North Wales Magistrates’ Court of failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made on April 28 2017 by failing to attend an appointment on November 27 2017 and as a consequence of this offence, on December 22 2017, the original unpaid work requirement was to continue, and Mr Morris was made subject to a two week electronic curfew requirement via electronic monitoring

Having made these findings, the committee determined that Mr Morris’ conduct at paragraphs 4 and 5 above was dishonest and demonstrated a lack of integrity. The committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Morris from the register of education practitioners in the category of further education learning support worker and work based learning practitioner.

It also decided Mr Morris may not apply for restoration to the register before a period of 2 years has elapsed. Should Mr Morris not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the register after December 19 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

Nicholas Maguire

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on December 9 to 10 2024, found an allegation of unacceptable professional conduct proved against work-based learning practitioner, Nicholas Maguire. The committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Work-Based Learning Practitioner at Inspire Training, Mr Maguire

• in or around August 2022, acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner towards colleagues in that he said and/or called them:
• “f****t”, or words to that effect
• “psycho b***h”, or words to that effect

The committee imposed a reprimand on Mr Maguire’s registration as a work-based learning practitioner, further education learning support worker and school learning support worker for a period of two years (from December 10 2024 to December 10 2026). As such, Mr Maguire will be able to work as a work based learning practitioner, who provides services for or on behalf of a work-based learning body other than as a volunteer or as a further education learning support worker, in FE institutions in Wales or school learning support worker in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales.

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