Publication date: 14 May 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 6 and 7 May 2025, has found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct proved against school learning support worker, Lois Bennett.

The Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Learning Support Assistant by Ysgol y Graig Community Primary School, Miss Bennett:

1. on or around 23 October 2023, in relation to Pupil A:
   1. hissed in and/or near their face
   2. made a hand gesture in and/or near their face
2. in relation to her conduct at paragraph 1, recorded this incident on her mobile phone
3. in relation to her conduct at paragraph 2, shared this recording and/or video of Pupil A with at least one person who was not employed by the school
4. in respect of her conduct at paragraph 2 and 3:
   1. the video was shared on social media
   2. knew or reasonably ought to have known that there was risk that this the video could be shared on social media
   3. breached the School’s Social Media Policy

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Miss Bennett’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 12 months (from 7 May 2025 to 7 May 2026), provided that she meets the conditions specified within this timeframe.

As such, Miss Bennett 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.

Miss Bennett has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 14 May 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 8 May 2025, has found an allegation a relevant offence proved against school learning support worker, Richard Evan Davies.

The Committee found that Mr Davies:

On 6 October 2023, was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

As a consequence of the offence was sentenced to:

• a suspended sentence order – imprisonment of 15 months, suspended for 18 months
• an alcohol abstinence requirement
• a rehabilitation activity requirement
• 90 days of an electronic tagging residence requirement.

Having made this finding, the Committee decided that the conduct amounted to a relevant offence.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (without conditions) on Mr Davies’ registration as a school learning support worker for a period of 18 months (from 8 May 2025 to 8 November 2026). As such, Mr Davies, 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 Davies has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.

Publication date: 8 May 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 28 April – 1 May 2025, has found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct proved against further education teacher, Aled Medwyn Jones.

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

• between August 2019 and March 2020, recorded observations of site visits for 7 NVQ apprentices on Learning Assist when one or more of the visits did not take place
• made one or more travel expenses claims on Proactis when the corresponding visit did not take place on dates between August 2019 and October 2019

The conduct found proven was considered dishonest and lacking in integrity by the committee.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr Jones from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of further education teacher, further education learning support worker and work based learning practitioner. It also decided Mr Jones may not make an application for restoration to the Register of Education Practitioners before a period of 2 years has elapsed. Should Mr Jones not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after 1 May 2027, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

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

Publication date: 23 April 2025

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 10 April 2025, has found allegations of a relevant offence proved against school learning support worker, Mark Peter Casey.   

The Committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr Casey:

• On 5 March 2024, was convicted of assault by beating, contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988

The committee found the proven conviction amounted to a relevant offence.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Suspension Order (with conditions) on Mr Casey’s registration as a school learning support worker for a period of two years (from 10 April 2025 to 10 April 2027), provided that he meets the conditions specified within this timeframe.  

As such, Mr Casey 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 Casey has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.