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.

Publication date: 27 July 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting in person on 14 to 17 July 2026, has found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school teacher, Peter Biggins.      

The Committee found that whilst employed by Education Supply Pool and working at the Pupil Referral Service, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, in or around February or March 2024, Mr Biggins in front of colleagues, and learners made comments of words to the effect of:

• colleague A is a “banjo snapper”
• colleague A has “snapped many in her time”
• colleague A “fancies you” [Learner B]
• colleague A “would like to marry you” [Learner B]

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Biggins’ registration as a school teacher for a period of 2 years (from 17 July 2026 to 17 July 2028). As such, Mr Biggins will be able to work as a school teacher in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales during the period of the Reprimand.

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

Publication date: 17 July 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 7 and 8 July 2026, has found an allegation of ‘a relevant offence’ and ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against school learning support worker, Mr Andrew James.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that Mr James, whilst employed at Caerau Primary School (‘the School’):

1. on 4 March 2025, was convicted of sexual assault on a female, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. As a consequence of this offence, on 25 March 2025, he was sentenced to a Community Order with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, and required to register with the police in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for five years
   1. did not inform the School of the following when he was obliged to do so by the terms of his employment, and his employer's policies, that:
   2. on 19 December 2024, he was charged by the Police for the offence referred to in paragraph 1
2. on 4 March 2025, he was convicted of the offence referred to in paragraph 1
3. did not inform the Education Workforce Council that on 4 March 2025, he had been convicted of the offence referred to in paragraph 1

Having made these findings in relation to allegation 2 and 3, the Committee also determined that Mr James’ conduct was dishonest and lacked integrity.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Prohibition Order, indefinitely removing Mr James from the Register of Education Practitioners in the category of school learning support worker. It also decided Mr James may not make an application for restoration to the Register of Education Practitioners before a period of 3 years and 9 months has elapsed. Should Mr James not make a successful application for eligibility for restoration to the Register after 8 April 2030, he will remain prohibited indefinitely.

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

Publication date: 9 July 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting in person on 29 June to 3 July 2026, has found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ proved against further education learning support worker and school learning support worker, Simon Cornish.

The Fitness to Practise Committee found the following allegations proven, that whilst employed as a Technician at Coleg Gwent, Mr Cornish did not consistently follow reasonable management instructions, as follows:

1. to keep workshops free from unwanted large material
2. to recycle offcuts of wood, so these could be stored continuously in order to be applied for other uses
3. to use equipment in accordance with training he had been given
4. not to use equipment until he had been given the necessary training

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mr Cornish’s registration as a further education learning support worker and school learning support worker for a period of 2 years (from 3 July 2026 to 3 July 2028). As such, Mr Cornish will be able to work as a registered person (further education learning support worker) who provides specific services in or for a further education institution in Wales for the period of the Reprimand. He will also 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.

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