Education's year in court

Success stories were overcast by controversy

Education in Wales hit the headlines this year with classroom controversy and court cases overshadowing much of the good work being done elsewhere, writes BBC Wales's education correspondent Louise Elliott.

There were many positive developments, including better GCSE and A level results, the piloting of a unique Welsh alternative to the A-level and the UK's first children's commissioner.

But it was the negative events that clouded the progress made in 2000.

Marjorie Evans, the 56-year-old headteacher alleged to have slapped a difficult pupil across the face, began the year 2000 suspended from her job at St Mary's School in Caldicot, Monmouthshire.

She had always denied slapping the 10-year-old boy, saying instead she had restrained him because he was swearing and had become difficult.

Marjorie Evans: Suspended from post

After a five day trial at Abergavenny magistrates court, Mrs Evans was found guilty of common assault.

Two weeks later, she was sentenced to a three-month suspended jail term.

Mrs Evans took her case to appeal and at Cardiff Crown Court in September.

The judge, Mr Justice McKinnon overturned her conviction, saying she should leave court with her good reputation and character entirely intact.

She had hoped to return to school immediately, but her school governors had other ideas, saying she must now face an internal disciplinary panel.

Although she was not officially suspended, the governors did not want her to return to school yet.

Mrs Evans's trade union, the NUT, is now preparing to challenge that decision in the courts.

Jan Howell: Stress compensation

It will be the new year now before she knows when or if she can return.

Another teacher, Jan Howell, says she will never return to the classroom.

After suffering two nervous breakdowns, she won a record payout for such a case in Wales, of £250,000.

The payment was made by Newport Council after the authority accepted liability in her case.

Mrs Howell said her workload had become intolerable and despite pleas for help, she claimed she received little support from her bosses.

PFI school opens

Her union, the NASUWT, said other teachers in similar positions may now follow suit.

Just before the schools broke up for the Christmas holidays, Wales managed to squeeze in another first.

Ysgol Penweddig in Aberystwyth became the first in Wales to be built and maintained as part of a Private Finance Initiative, or PFI.

A consortium called New Schools Ltd own the building and its contents and supply a range of services to the school, like catering and cleaning.

Ceredigion education authority will now pay a kind of 'rent' for the school for the next 30 years.

After that time, the school will be transferred to the council.

But teaching unions are sceptical about the school's long term value for money, although the LEA predicts Penweddig will be the first of many in Wales.

We will have to wait and see what 2001 brings.