Reform expected from slap case report

Unions criticised the length of Mrs Evans' ordeal

Calls for a shake up of the way local authorities deal with complaints against teachers are expected in a report into the suspension of head teacher Marjorie Evans.

The Welsh National Assembly has investigated the way Monmouthshire County Council suspended Mrs Evans for a year and a half when she was accused of slapping a child.

The Appeal Court had cleared Mrs Evans of slapping the 10-year-old pupil, but it took the local authority another three months to allow her to return to her job as head of St Mary's Junior School in Caldicot, south Wales.

Most teachers can expect one or two allegations in the course of their career

Gethin Lewis,
NUT Cymru

The authority said there were other allegations against her.

The National Union of Teachers Cymru (Wales), representing Mrs Evans, is confident the report will be her final vindication.

Mrs Evans is happy to be back in school but remains mystified why her own staff had made allegations against her.

"I want to get down to the nitty-gritty of why this happened," she told BBC Radio Wales.

The inquiry, commissioned by Welsh education minister Jane Davidson, is likely to criticise the county council for the way it handled the complaint against her.

It is also expected to recommend a shake up of the current disciplinary procedures in Wales.

Regional changes

The NUT Cymru criticised the length of Mrs Evans' ordeal and said it was concerned that it had to go to the High Court to learn the nature of further allegations made against the headteacher.

It also complained that the local education authority was judge, jury and prosecutor in her case.

NUT Cymru general secretary Gethin Lewis supported Mrs Evans

Following Mrs Evans' case, then Education Secretary David Blunkett announced he wanted to cut the amount of time it takes to deal with allegations from an average of nine months to three months.

The Westminster government is already implementing a number of changes to the system in England, including new regional co-ordinators to oversee complaints against teachers and heads.

They will advise headteachers and governors and iron out bottlenecks in the investigations carried out by police, social workers and council officials.

'Support needed'

The system will not be adopted in Wales, where the Assembly is to use existing agencies to perform a similar role.

NUT Cymru general secretary Gethin Lewis said he would like to see a system based on the English model adopted in Wales.

He also said he wanted to see Monmouthshire LEA criticised.

"We need co-ordinators who are used to the hurly-burly of school life," he said.

"Most teachers can expect one or two allegations in the course of their career.

"The majority are totally unfounded and malicious. Support for pupils and staff is a major issue for the morale of the whole education service."