School worker ‘faked compassionate leave’

ASCHOOL learning support worker said she needed compassionate leave and then went on holiday, a professional standards hearing has been told.

Ella Frazer Griffith was caught out when colleagues spotted photos of her in Rome on Facebook at the time she’d asked off for compassionate leave, the Education Workforce Council Wales committee heard.

Ysgol Cybi on Anglesey agreed Miss Griffith’s request for compassionate leave for two and a half days because senior staff were already aware she had “a serious personal matter at home”.

The teaching assistant, part of the additional learning needs team at the primary school, asked for compassionate leave from lunchtime on Friday, September 18, to Tuesday, September 22, last year just as schools returned after months of Covid closures.

But she never gave an exact reason on an absence request form, deputy head Rhian Grieve told the hearing, which is being held remotely.

On September 22 other members of staff alerted her to Facebook photos posted by Miss Griffith’s partner showing her in Rome.

When she returned to work on September 23 Miss Griffith, who had worked at the school for a year, initially told the deputy head she had been away for the weekend only. Later she “confessed she’d lied at the length of time away,” Mrs Grieve said.

The teaching assistant, who has since left the school, was not present at the hearing, was not represented and did not enter a plea.

She faces five allegations of unacceptable professional conduct. It is alleged that:

■ On September 17, 2020, Miss Griffith applied for compassionate leave from September 18 to September 22, 2020, in the knowledge that she would be using the time to go on holiday to Italy;

■ on dates between September 18 and September 22, 2020, when signed off work on grounds of compassionate leave, she went on holiday to Italy on September 18, returning on September 21;

■ she did not keep in reasonable contact with her line manager in accordance with the school’s absence reporting policy on September 24, 2020; and/or September 25, 2020;

■ her conduct in respect of the three allegations demonstrated a lack of integrity; and

■ Her conduct in respect of the three allegation was dishonest.

These allegations, if found proven individually or together, constitute unacceptable professional conduct, the committee hearing the case was told.

The teaching assistant, who worked a 30-hour week with year five pupils in the learning support department, communicated well with the children, Mrs Grieve said.

But she had struggled to engage while Ysgol Cybi was shut for most of the summer term 2020 and had been provided with devices to work remotely.

“She spoke with me on September 17, 2020, and asked to leave early the following day and return on September 23,” Mrs Grieve told the committee.

“The situation appeared critical in that Ella Griffith’s family needed her and she requested compassionate leave.”

But when she saw Facebook photos of the teaching assistant and her boyfriend standing by a fountain in Rome on September 18 she realised she had been on holiday.

At a meeting with Mrs Grieve and other senior staff on September 23 Miss Griffith said she had only been in Rome at the weekend but did not provide airline tickets to show dates she had been there as requested.

She then failed to show up at work for the next two days, sending texts to say she wouldn’t be in and not following the school policy of phoning before 7.30am.

The hearing continues.