Publication date: 10 February 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 27 and 28 January 2025, has found allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school learning support worker, Alex Gater.

The Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed by New Directions Ltd working as a Teaching Assistant at St Cenydd Comprehensive School Mr Gater:

• on or around 19 July 2023, made contact with Child A’s face, knocking him to the floor. The committee found the contact to be a disproportionate, inappropriate, and excessive response to Child A’s behaviour.

The committee also found that on or around 14 September 2023, Mr Gater agreed to a Police Community Resolution Order for common assault in respect of the incident described above.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Mr Gater’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 6 months (from 28 January 2025 to 28 July 2025), provided that he meets the conditions specified within this timeframe.

As such, Mr Gater will not be able to work as a school learning support worker in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the order.

Mr Gater has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 4 February 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 28 January 2025, has found an allegation of ‘a relevant offence’ proved against school teacher, Emma Peters.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that Mrs Peters:

1. on 20 March 2024, was convicted of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol on 12 February 2024, contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, Mrs Peters was sentenced to a community order of 120 hours unpaid work and disqualified from driving for 28 months
2. on 20 March 2024, was convicted of failing to stop after a traffic incident on 12 February 2024, contrary to section 170(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, Mrs Peters was sentenced to a community order of 120 hours of unpaid work and had her driving licence endorsed

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand upon Mrs Peters’ registration as a school teacher for a period of two years (from 28 January 2025 to 28 January 2027). As such, Mrs Peters 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. 

Mrs Peters has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 4 February 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely 27, 28 and 29 January 2025, has found allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school teacher, Morgan Jones.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school teacher at Ysgol Rhiwabon, Mr Jones acted in an inappropriate manner, in that Mr Jones:

1. on or around 13 March 2023, told Learner 1:
   1. he was a “tramp”
   2. that he “should go back to the special class”, or words to that effect
2. on or around 15 March 2023:
   1. in response to Learner 2 referring to Mr Jones as a “nugget”, bent over and shouted close to Learner 2’s face and told him to “Shut your face” or words to that effect
   2. referred to Learner 3 as a “freak”, or words to the effect

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Jones’ registration as a school teacher for a period of 2 years (from 29 January 2025 to 29 January 2027). 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.

Mr Jones has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 30 January 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 21 – 23 January 2025, has found allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ and a ‘relevant offence’ proved against school teacher, Danielle Louise Fleming.  

The Committee found the following allegations proven, that:

1. whilst employed as a Director of Learning at Maesteg Comprehensive School, Mrs Fleming, on 4 May 2023, attended the workplace and was under the influence of alcohol and/or consumed alcohol whilst on school premises.

2. on 26 February 2024, Mrs Fleming was convicted of driving a motor vehicle, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in her breath, namely 108 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit, contrary to section 5 (1) (a) Road Traffic Act 1988.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Mrs Fleming’s registration as a school teacher for a period of 4 months, which specifies conditions upon her registration.

This Order is effective immediately. The conditions will only become effective should Mrs Fleming re-register with the EWC.

As such, Mrs Fleming 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 suspension.

Mrs Fleming has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.