Teacher guilty of 'incompetence'

Martin Reynish was held in high regard by fellow teachers and parents

A teacher who failed to control disruptive pupils has been found guilty of professional incompetence.

Martin Reynish, who was held in "high esteem" by colleagues at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive at Beddau, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is now a "capable" home tutor.

A hearing was told pupils disrupted his lessons, playing computer games. One even set off a firecracker in class.

The General Teaching Council of Wales (GTCW) ordered him to undertake more training within two years.

It had been told pupils used MP3 players and games consoles during his English lessons, and one took a mobile phone call.

The hearing was the first of its kind heard by the GTCW which normally considers issues of suitability or misconduct only.

But new powers that came into force in 2001 mean local education authorities can refer teachers who are sacked or resign under a cloud to the GTCW for it to rule on their suitability to continue in the profession.

'Significant difficulties'

The teaching council heard claims that between October 2004 and February 2006, Mr Reynish failed to manage, control or motivate the pupils in his class and that he failed to meet the standards expected of a competent teacher.

The claims, which were upheld by the committee, were taken from classroom observations.

These included failures to deal with pupils' disruptive and disrespectful behaviour, late-starting lessons, negative marking, failing to keep his classroom tidy and a failure to implement suggestions and support given by the school.

In every aspect of this work Martin Reynish has proved to be both capable and available Rhondda Cynon Taf home tutoring service manager

Mr Reynish, who resigned from the school in February 2006, was given a conditional registration order which will allow him to continue to teach both as a home tutor and in a school.

But he must pay for the training, on how to manage a class and teaching techniques, himself.

David Evans, of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said Mr Reynish was very relieved and pleased at the outcome.

He said there were "significant difficulties" with the case.

'Recommended'

In mitigation, Mr Evans referred to several testimonials written in support of Mr Reynish, including some from former colleagues at the school who claimed the discipline problems he experienced at that time were to do, in part, with management issues at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive.

He was also described as a teacher who had not had discipline problems before and had "gained control from the outset" and was "robust" in the classroom.

His current line manager at Rhondda Cynon Taf's home tutoring service Anne Thomas said: "In every aspect of this work Martin Reynish has proved to be both capable and available.

"I have no hesitation in recommending him."

Mr Reynish was held in a "high esteem" by colleagues and parents and the problems centred on a short period of time, said Mr Evans.

"What we have got in that evidence indicates that Martin Reynish was an extremely competent teacher for many years whose discipline in the classroom was all that it should be.

"He has now found his feet and is coping very well."

Concerns

After the hearing, Mr Evans said some of the allegations related to difficulties on one particular day that Mr Reynish's lessons were being observed.

He also said the NUT had concerns with the way that the school had dealt with the issue.

"There have been no representations to the (General Teaching) Council to show that any pupils have suffered as a result of this," he added.

Rhondda Cynon Taf education authority said it had only just received the findings of the panel and that it needed to consider them before making a response.