Classroom ban for teacher who swore at pupils
A TEACHER who reduced pupils to tears by shouting in their faces and bragged about her sex life in the classroom has been banned from teaching for two years.
Julia Wheeler, who was employed as an English teacher at Pencoed Comprehensive School, Bridgend, faced several allegations of inappropriate or derogatory behaviour towards pupils.
An Education Workforce Council (EWC) fitness to practise hearing ruled that between January and May 2021 Wheeler was inappropriate and derogatory towards pupils, including calling them “d***heads”, “b*****ds”, and “f*****g b******s”, and shouting in their faces.
Wheeler was also found to have referred to a staff member as a “d***head”, made inappropriate comments to pupils about her own relationships, and wrote the word “b*tch” next to a pupil’s name on a mark sheet.
Steve Powell, lay member of the fitness to practise committee, said Wheeler’s behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and fell below the standards expected of a registered person.
He said evidence supplied by pupils in the form of statements and interviews with staff at the school was “consistent and corroborative”, referring to comments saying Wheeler had called pupils “d***heads”, “b*****ds”, and “f*****g b******s.”
He said pupils had even been reduced to tears by Wheeler, referring to one pupil who reported: “She once shouted at me so much I cried.”
“Ms Wheeler was a professional and ought to have been aware of the importance of communication with the pupils appropriately and of her responsibility as a role model,” Mr Powell said of her behaviour, adding that Wheeler had defended herself in this regard by saying she did shout but that she “used to teach drama” and was a “very loud personality”.
He added that Wheeler had left her desk and shouted in pupils’ faces in the classroom despite Covid safety measures on social distancing being in place during the period of the allegations.
Wheeler was also found to have made inappropriate comments to pupils about her personal relationships.
This included repeatedly referring to a “friend with benefits” in front of pupils, one of whom complained that she “explained to the whole class how he has abs and how they get it on together”.
Mr Powell said it was “not appropriate to discuss personal relationships with pupils” and that this would have “negatively impacted or caused embarrassment” to young learners.
Wheeler was also found to have referred to a pupil as “b**ch” on a mark sheet and referred to another staff member as a “d***head”, which the committee said was “not appropriate” language to use towards pupils and staff.
Only two of the allegations towards Wheeler – that she threw chairs off tables in a classroom and took pictures of her class to send to her daughter – were found not proven.
Presenting officer Sara Lewis said Wheeler’s conduct had negatively affected pupils and there had been “no expression of genuine regret” from Wheeler, who did not attend the hearing.
She said the incidents had occurred over a period of months and were “not an isolated lapse” and that there was a risk of repeating similar conduct.
Mr Powell said Wheeler had not expressed any regret or apology or demonstrated she could comply with safeguarding guidelines.
He said her behaviour had shown a “deliberate and reckless disregard” for pupils and colleagues and had had a “direct impact on some pupils”.
He noted her previous clean reputation but said the seriousness of her actions meant only a prohibition order would suffice.
Wheeler has been banned from teaching for two years after which she will be allowed to apply to re-join the register subject to a final decision from the EWC.