Teacher called pupils 'little s***s' and flicked V-sign, hearing told

Wales Online

a day ago

Teacher called pupils 'little s***s' and flicked V-sign, hearing told
Teacher Alice Ashton faces a raft of allegations about alleged foul language and inappropriate behaviour towards pupils as well as allegedly coming to Ysgol Bro Caereinion under the influence of alcohol
Ysgol Bro Caereinion
(Image: Powys County Council )
A teacher swore at pupils, telling them to "f*** off" and calling them "little s***s", and also flicked a "V sign" at them, it is alleged. Alice Ashton also came to school under the influence of alcohol and/or smelled of alcohol at work, a professional standards hearing was told. Ashton, who worked at Ysgol Bro Caereinion all-age school in Welshpool, was also convicted of drink-driving, the Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales hearing was told.
The teacher faces a raft of allegations about her conduct during a personal and social education lesson at the school. It is alleged that as well as using foul language she also refused pupils permission to leave the classroom.
She threatened one pupil that if he left the classroom "we will slag you off", or words to that effect, it is alleged. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Deputy head teacher Edward Baldwin told the hearing, held remotely on June 30, that he was first alerted when a parent rang him with serious allegations about Ashton's conduct during the lesson held in a computer suite at the school.
Mr Baldwin said he then spoke to pupils and looked at CCTV footage from the classroom.
Mr Baldwin said he did not know the teacher, other than general introductory when she first started at the school a few months earlier, and did not line manage her. But he said he had noticed Ashton, who also taught Welsh second language, alone in her classroom at lunchtimes when other staff were eating together in communal areas.
Article continues below
"I did not know her well. When I had introductory meetings with all members of new staff nothing made me think I had any concerns," the deputy head teacher told the panel.
Asked whether he was aware that some members of staff reported that she spent lunchtimes on her own in a classroom on the phone to her boyfriend Mr Baldwin agreed he had seen her "potentially on her own in the classroom".
He was also aware that she had made a number of "call-outs" relating to boys in her classes whose "behaviour was not good".
The teacher, who started her job at the bilingual school in September 2023, left in January 2024 after an investigation was launched into the allegations.
Under questioning from the panel Lorna Simpson, an HR consultant then hired by the school to carry out a probe into the allegations, said Ashton refused an interview but answered questions by email.
Miss Simpson told the panel she had interviewed around 10 pupils but had not taken into account the results of alcohol testing the school carried out on orange liquid found in a bottle in the waste bin of Ashton's classroom. This was because the school did not have an official alcohol testing policy.
Alice Ashton faces the following allegations at the EWC hearing
That she:
1. On 19 September 2023, at Telford Magistrates' Court, was convicted of driving with an alcohol over the limit on August 19, 2023, and as a consequence was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 28 months.
On 19 September 2023, at Telford Magistrates' Court, was convicted of driving with an alcohol over the limit on August 19, 2023, and as a consequence was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 28 months. 2. On or around January 17, 2024, appeared under the influence and/or smelt of alcohol whilst at work.
On or around January 17, 2024, appeared under the influence and/or smelt of alcohol whilst at work. 3. On one or more dates in or around January 2024 acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner towards and/or in front of pupil(s), in that she:
On one or more dates in or around January 2024 acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner towards and/or in front of pupil(s), in that she: a) said 'f***' and/or 's***', or words to that effect; and/or
said 'f***' and/or 's***', or words to that effect; and/or b) told pupil(s) to 'suck it' and/or 'f*** off', or words to that effect; and/or
told pupil(s) to 'suck it' and/or 'f*** off', or words to that effect; and/or c) called pupil(s) 'divvys' and/or 'little s***s', and/or 'little bitch', or words to that effect; and/or
called pupil(s) 'divvys' and/or 'little s***s', and/or 'little bitch', or words to that effect; and/or d) did not allow Pupil G and/or Pupil J to leave the classroom; and/or
did not allow Pupil G and/or Pupil J to leave the classroom; and/or e) in response to Pupil G saying he would 'snitch', you said 'be my guest, while you go we will slag you off', and/or 'don't snitch', or words to that effect; and/or;
in response to Pupil G saying he would 'snitch', you said 'be my guest, while you go we will slag you off', and/or 'don't snitch', or words to that effect; and/or; f) put her middle finger up and/or made a 'V' sign with your fingers at Pupil G.
The panel must decide whether any or all the allegations are proved and, if so, whether individually or collectively they amount to unacceptable professional conduct.
Ashton was not present at the hearing and not represented which usually means the panel take it that the allegations are denied.
Ysgol Bro Caereinion has more than 500 pupils aged four to 16. The school opened in September 2021 following the merger of Ysgol Gynradd Llanfair Caereinion and Ysgol Uwchradd Caereinion.
The school is streamed linguistically. Pupils are taught through the medium of Welsh with the aim to be fully bilingual in the Welsh stream and learners are taught through the medium of English with daily Welsh sessions in the English stream.
Last week Powys Council announced that a senior education officer from the local authority has been appointed as the acting head teacher. The current head current head Huw Lloyd-Jones and deputy Mr Baldwin resigned in May after after more than three years at the school and are due to leave at the end of this term.
Anwen Orrells had now been appointed as acting head while the search continues to fill the post permanently. She is currently head of school improvement and learning at Powys County Council and strategic lead for the Mid Wales Education Partnership.
The position as permanent head teacher at Ysgol Bro Caereinion has recently been advertised and the recruitment process is ongoing, the council has said.
Article continues below
The hearing continues.