Publication date: 27 March 2026

A Fitness to Practise Committee of the Education Workforce Council (EWC), sitting remotely on 19 March 2026, have found an allegation of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ and a conviction of a ‘relevant offence’ proved against school learning support worker, Hayley Austin.      

The Committee found that Mrs Austin:

1. on 8 August 2008, was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court for:
   1. supplying controlled drug – Class B – Amphetamine, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 s.4(3) on 18 October 2007, for which she was sentenced to imprisonment of 32 weeks wholly suspended for 24 months and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 200 hours
   2. supplying controlled drug – Class B – Amphetamine, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 s.4(3) on 18 October 2007, for which she was sentenced to imprisonment of 32 weeks concurrent, wholly suspended for 24 months, and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 200 hours
   3. supplying controlled drug – Class B – Amphetamine, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 s.4(3) on 18 October 2007, for which she was sentenced to imprisonment of 32 weeks concurrent, wholly suspended for 24 months, and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 200 hours

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

2. on or around 6 February 2023, Mrs Austin applied for registration with the Education Workforce Council as a School Learning Support Worker and indicated in the declarations section that she did not have any convictions, when this was incorrect

Having made this finding, the Committee also decided that the conduct lacked integrity and amounted to ‘unacceptable professional conduct’.

The Fitness to Practise Committee imposed a Reprimand on Mrs Austin’s registration as a school learning support worker, for a period of 2 years (from 19 March 2026 to 19 March 2028).

As such, Mrs Austin will be able to work as a school learning support worker in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales during the period of the Reprimand.

Mrs Austin has a right of appeal to High Court within 28 days.