Teaching assistant called in sick then went on a football course

A teaching assistant signed off work sick and went on a football training course he'd been refused leave to attend, a professional standards hearing was told. Jamie Harris, who worked at Ysgol Bryn Castell in Bridgend, was "caught out" when another member of staff spotted a social media post revealing he'd been on the UEFA A license course.

The Education Workforce Council Wales hearing was told that Mr Harris tried for three years before being accepted on the prestigious course in Newport, attended by candidates from across Britain.

The teaching assistant, who started work at YBC in 2021, had saved to pay the £3,500 course fee having already completed UEFA B and C license courses. 

The top flight UEFA A license course has been completed by world class stars such as legendary French striker Thierry Henry, the hearing on January 14 was told.

University of South Wales graduate and keen footballer Mr Harris, who has coached for Yeovil Town, Barry Town, and Cardiff and Vale College, said he had been "delighted" to be accepted on the competitive course.

But it came at a hard time in his life when he had taken paid sick leave from Ysgol Bryn Castell from June 3 to June 17 2024, owing to personal pressure.

Giving evidence in person at the remote hearing Mr Harris insisted he was genuinely on sick leave and struggling with personal issues when he went on the course over four days in June 2024.

Questioned by the panel he said his request for unpaid leave to attend the course was turned down at the end of May 2024, but he later went on sick leave for personal reasons and had never been told by his employer what he could or could not do whilst on sick leave.

His partner and family had urged him to attend the UEFA course telling him it would do him good to get out of the house at what was a hard time.

Mr Harris felt the training would also help him in his job at the school for children with additional learning needs .

But when he returned to work he was called to a meeting with headteacher Helen Ridout who said his attendance on the course during paid sick leave became known through a social media post.

An investigation was launched and Harris, who had immediately admitted attending the course, was "devastated" to be dismissed.

He agreed he had not initially been 100% honest to his headteacher, and school investigation, about the number of hours he had attended the four day course for.

Harris said he had "panicked" but then gave a full account. He denied an allegation that his actions were dishonest but agreed his initial response had lacked integrity.

Asked by EWC presenting officer Joanna Wilkins whether he had felt "hard done by" when his request for unpaid leave to attend the course was refused Harris denied this saying he had been "confused" rather than annoyed.

The teaching assistant, who now works at Woodlands special school in Cardiff, accepted "it looked very bad attending the course" whilst on sick leave.

It had been hard to be told his request had been turned down so late and so close to the date the course started, but he denied that was what prompted him to go off sick.

Giving evidence in person to the remote hearing on January 14 Harris said he had worked in construction for a year after losing his job at Ysgol Bryn Castell during which he had completed the two other parts of the UEFA course.

Former colleagues and friends had urged him to apply for the job he got at Woodlands, which lists Mr Harris on its website as sports development officer.

Th hearing continues.