Jamie Harris has denied dishonesty at a professional standards hearing after attending a prestigious football training course despite being refused unpaid leave to attend it
A teaching assistant who was on sick leave attended a football training course he’d been denied leave for, according to a professional standards hearing.
Jamie Harris, an employee at Ysgol Bryn Castell in Bridgend, was “caught out” when a colleague spotted a social media post revealing his attendance at the UEFA A license course. Harris was “devastated” to be dismissed but refuted an allegation that his actions were dishonest but accepted that his initial response lacked integrity.
The Education Workforce Council Wales hearing heard that Mr Harris had tried for three years before securing a place on the prestigious Newport-based course, which attracts candidates from across the UK.
Mr Harris, who began working at YBC in 2021, had saved up to cover the £3,500 course fee after already completing UEFA B and C license courses. The elite UEFA A license course has been completed by world-class talents such as legendary French striker Thierry Henry, the hearing on 14 January was informed.
University of South Wales graduate and avid footballer Mr Harris, who has coached for Yeovil Town, Barry Town, and Cardiff and Vale College, expressed his delight at being accepted onto the competitive course, reports Wales Online.
However, this coincided with a difficult period in his life when he had taken paid sick leave from Ysgol Bryn Castell from 3 June to 17 June 2024, due to personal pressure. Presenting his evidence at the remote hearing, Mr Harris maintained that he was genuinely on sick leave and dealing with personal issues when he attended the four-day course in June 2024.
When questioned by the panel, he revealed that his request for unpaid leave to attend the course was denied at the end of May 2024. However, he later took sick leave for personal reasons and claimed his employer never specified what he could or couldn’t do while on sick leave.
His partner and family had encouraged him to participate in the UEFA course, suggesting it would be beneficial for him to get out of the house during a difficult period. Mr Harris believed the training would also aid him in his role at the school for children with additional learning needs.
Upon his return to work, he was summoned to a meeting with headteacher Helen Ridout who informed him that his attendance at the course during paid sick leave had been discovered through a social media post. An investigation was initiated and Harris, who immediately confessed to attending the course, was “devastated” to be dismissed.
He conceded that he hadn’t initially been completely honest with his headteacher, and the school investigation, about the number of hours he had spent at the four-day course. Harris admitted he had “panicked” but then provided a full account. He refuted an allegation that his actions were dishonest but accepted that his initial response lacked integrity.
When EWC presenting officer Joanna Wilkins asked if he felt “hard done by” when his request for unpaid leave to attend the course was rejected, Harris denied this, stating he had been “confused” rather than annoyed.
The teaching assistant, currently employed at Woodlands special school in Cardiff, acknowledged “it looked very bad attending the course” while on sick leave. He found it difficult to accept that his request had been rejected so late and so close to the start date of the course, but he refuted that this was the reason for his sick leave.
Presenting evidence in person at the remote hearing on 14 January, Harris revealed that he had worked in construction for a year after losing his job at Ysgol Bryn Castell, during which time he completed the other two parts of the UEFA course.
Former colleagues and friends encouraged him to apply for his current position at Woodlands, where Mr Harris is listed on its website as the sports development officer.
The hearing continues.
