Publication date: 30 September 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 22-24 September 2026, has found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school teacher and school learning support worker, Shon Rowcliffe.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst Mr Rowcliffe was employed as a school teacher at Ysgol Bro Preseli:

1. On or around 11 May 2024, whilst having responsibility for one or more pupils on a school trip and being in the presence of one or more pupils on a school trip, he:
   1. was under the influence of alcohol to such a degree that it was not appropriate for him to have responsibility for one or more pupils
   2. hit and/or slapped Pupil A across the chest
   3. on one or more occasions, swore and used obscene language
   4. raised his middle finger

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (without conditions) on Mr Rowcliffe’s registration as a school teacher and school learning support worker for a period of two years (from 24 September 2026 to 24 September 2028). As such, Mr Rowcliffe will not be able to work as a registered person (school teacher and/or school learning support worker) in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales for the period of the Order.

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

Publication date: 29 Septmeber 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 7-9 July 2026, 23 July 2026 and 16 September 2026, have found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against independent school teacher, Janet Brackenbury.      

The Committee found that between May to September 2023, whilst employed as a Kindergarten Teacher at Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School, Ms Brackenbury:

1. did not support the School to uphold its safeguarding responsibilities, in that:
   1. on or around 1 June 2023, in an email to the Pembrokeshire Safeguarding Team, they misrepresented the position and/or did not provide all of the information regarding the decision to exclude Pupil A from the School trip, in that they stated that “as a Management Team we feel that the reaction is disproportionate” and/or that the School Management Team wanted to support Pupil A to attend the trip, which was incorrect
   2. between May to September 2023, they continued to challenge and/or question the decision to exclude Pupil A from the School trip after it had been made and/or confirmed
2. did not maintain professional and/or respectful relationships with one or more colleagues, in that:
   1. on or around 17 June 2023, in an email to the School Collegiate regarding the decision to exclude Pupil A from the School trip, they stated that “solutions were offered to support [Colleague A] on the trip however he refused them and frustrated any possibility of resolving the situation”
   2. on or around 29 July 2023, they sent an email to School staff stating that they agreed with and had “more to add” to an email from Colleague C in which they criticised Colleague A regarding the decision to exclude Pupil A from the School trip
   3. on or around 19 September 2023, in an email to Colleague B, they stated that “[Colleague A] frustrated any attempts to have a reasonable attempt at including [Pupil A] on the trip and is now frustrating the process of my being able to fully function”

In making the above findings, the Committee also decided that Ms Brackenbury’s conduct at paragraph 1(a) above was dishonest and lacking in integrity. 

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Ms Brackenbury’s registration as an independent school teacher for a period of 2 years (from 16 September 2026 to 16 September 2028). As such, Ms Brackenbury will be able to work as an independent school teacher in or for an independent school in Wales for the period of the Reprimand.

Ms Brackenbury has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 20 August 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 6 August 2026, has found an allegation of a ‘relevant offence’ proved against school learning support worker, Rhian Thomas-Dyson.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst registered with the Education Workforce Council, Mrs Thomas-Dyson:

1. On 22 November 2023, was convicted at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for:
   1. criminal damage to property on 11 May 2023 valued under £5000, contrary to sections 1(1) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. As a consequence of this offence, on 22 November 2023, she was sentenced to a Community Order with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to pay compensation of £200
   2. assault by beating on 11 May 2023, contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, on 22 November 2023, she was sentenced to a Community Order, with Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, restraining order – protection from harassment, she was fined £40 and ordered to pay compensation of £50

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mrs Thomas-Dyson’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 2 years (from 6 August 2026 to 6 August 2028). As such, Mrs Thomas-Dyson 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.

Mrs Thomas-Dyson has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 27 July 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 July 2026, has found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school learning support worker, Claire Townsend.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed at Willows High School, Ms Townsend:

1. between around 16 July 2024 and around 12 August 2024, did not maintain professional boundaries with pupils, in that:
   1. on or around 16 July 2024, gave Pupil A her personal mobile telephone number so that she could add Ms Townsend to a WhatsApp group chat containing pupils (“the group chat”)
   2. remained in the group chat until around 12 August 2024, which was after her purported reason for joining the group chat had come to an end
   3. sent one or more messages in the group chat which ended with “x” or “xx”
   4. sent one or more messages in the group chat outside term-time and during the evening
   5. in response to a pupil’s message saying “I touch myself”, sent a message saying, “I am here guys but honestly I’m not going to get offended by any of your messages I know it’s just banter etc … and to be honest [Name redacted] someone has to do it!”
   6. in response to a pupil’s message (since deleted), sent a message saying, “I’m still still here guys!! To be honest 80% of what you send I do not understand I won’t get offended so carry on doing what youre doing and I’ll just watch!!!!x”
   7. shared information in the group chat regarding class moves when she knew, or reasonably ought to have known that this was information to be shared sensitively and/or by the Head of Year or Deputy Headteacher
2. having observed inappropriate messages/content posted by pupils to the group chat, did not notify the School’s Headteacher and/or the Designated Safeguarding Lead that:
   1. she had been a part of a group chat with pupils using your personal number
   2. that inappropriate messages had been shared by pupils on the group chat
3. on or around 16 November 2023, during a sex education class, shared details about her personal history when it was not appropriate or necessary to do so.

Having made these findings, the Committee also determined that Ms Townsend’s conduct at paragraphs 1(a) to 1(f) and 2 above was in breach of the School’s Safeguarding Training and the School’s Child Protection Policy.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Ms Townsend’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 2 years (from 17 July 2026 to 17 July 2028). As such, Ms Townsend 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.

Ms Townsend has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.