Publication date: 23 October 2024

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

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

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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, when it was appropriate to make this declaration at Part 8 of the application form

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 Fitness to Practise 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 of Education Practitioners before a period of 2 years has elapsed. Should Mr Evans not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after 16 October 2026, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

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

Publication date: 21 Hydref 2024

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

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Deputy Headteacher at Wats Dyke Primary School, Mr Jones engaged in inappropriate use of social media on a number of occasions in that:

1. 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:
   1. video 1 showed pupils sharing pupils’ spelling score results in September 2021 following their spelling score result in January 2022
   2. video 2 showed pupils’ spelling score result number increase from September 2021 to January 2022
2. 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 Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Jones’ registration as a school teacher for a period of 2 years (from 4 October 2024 to 4 October 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.

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

Publication date: 11 October 2024

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 30 September to 3 October 2024, have 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 7 June 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 2 years (from 3 October 2024 to 3 October 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.

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

Publication date: 9 October 2024

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 2 and 3 October 2024, has found allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ and ‘a relevant offence’ proved against school teacher, David Sweet.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a school teacher at Ysgol John Bright, Mr Sweet:

1. on 18 June 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, contrary to section 5(1) (a) and section 5(6) of the Public Order Act 1986. As a consequence of this offence, he was fined £225

2. on 30 June 2022, was convicted at North East Wales Magistrates’ Court of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol on 1 June 2022, contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. As a consequence of this offence, on 21 July 2022, he was disqualified from driving for 24 months and fined £1071

3. on or around 15 July 2016 and/or 18 June 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

4. on or around 15 July 2016 and/or 18 June 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 Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand upon 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. 

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