Former deputy head banned
FORMER deputy head teacher Michael James Davies, above, has been banned from teaching after leaving a primary school pupil on their own while on a school trip to Oakwood theme park.
A FORMER deputy head teacher has been banned from teaching after leaving a primary school pupil on their own while on a school trip to Oakwood theme park.
Michael James Davies was struck off the teaching register after a string of allegations against him, amounting to “unacceptable professional conduct”, were found to have been proved.
A fitness to practise Education Workforce Council hearing in Cardiff, which lasted three days, ruled against Mr Davies on several allegations during his time as a deputy head teacher at Caerau Primary School in Maesteg, from January 2013 until June 2014.
The hearing was told he had left a primary school pupil who was too short to go on Oakwood theme park’s Megafobia rollercoaster at the entrance before going on the ride up to four times.
The committee found it to be true that he secretly recorded a staff meeting on his iPad without permission; that he did not maintain confidentiality when he divulged to staff the outcomes of other teachers’ lesson observations by a former HMI; that he did not maintain confidentiality when he told staff of the head teacher’s draft plans for future staffing before they had been agreed; and that he failed to properly supervise Pupil A during a school trip in that he left him on his own in a public place.
As a result of their findings, the committee also found Mr Davies to have acted dishonestly and the facts constituted unacceptable professional conduct.
Mr Davies denied the allegations and told the hearing he was being bullied by some members of staff in the school, and that four or five colleagues wanted his job before he was appointed.
He told the hearing on Wednesday: “They looked for everything they could to make my life difficult.”
Presenting officer Cadi Dewi told the hearing the evidence against Mr Davies was “overwhelming”
Ms Dewi said there was an atmosphere of “havoc” and “chaos” on the school trip to the theme park in Pembrokeshire.
Giving the committee’s ruling, committee chair Jacquie Turnbull said the only outcome which was proportionate and sufficient to address their concerns was a prohibition order, which came into effect on Thursday .
The chair noted how Mr Davies had continued to deny the allegations made against him and that he maintained he was the subject of a witch-hunt.
She said: “One of his pupils did not pass the height test which would enable him to go on the ride. In any event, it would not have been appropriate for Pupil A to go on the ride as a result of his physical condition.”
The chair continued: “It was simply a matter of good fortune that other members of staff were present.
“Mr Davies had failed to have sufficient regard to the safety and wellbeing of a pupil who was in his care.”
The chair said that evidence from character witnesses showed Mr Davies to have had “an unblemished career” before his time at what was described as a “demand- ing school”.
She said: “There was a lack of appreciation of the seriousness of his actions and their consequences.
“He believed himself to be a scapegoat for other issues which existed in the school.”
Mr Davies must wait two years before he can apply to have his name re-added to the teaching register. .
He was not present on the final day of the hearing in Cardiff.