A teaching assistant, Siobhan Rowan, employed at Woodlands High in Cardiff, a special school, has been prohibited from working in the classroom.
Following her conviction for drug dealing, she received a suspended sentence at Cardiff Crown Court and was mandated to perform community service for her involvement in drug-related offenses, according to a professional standards hearing.
The Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales panel decided to remove her from the teaching assistant register. They noted that the offenses occurred outside of school hours and did not involve students directly; nevertheless, they could have had an impact on them. Rowan, who had been engaged at Woodlands through the Teacher Active agency, did not attend the remote hearing on October 19.
She was unrepresented and did not enter any pleas. Additionally, she had not actively participated in the process and displayed no evident remorse or insight, as stated by panel chair Peter Owen. The committee was informed that Siobhan Rowan had been convicted at Cardiff Crown Court on May 3 the previous year. Subsequently, on May 27, she was sentenced to a 24-month suspended imprisonment term lasting 18 months and was mandated to complete an eight-day rehabilitation program along with 180 hours of unpaid work.
Her convictions, which included possession of cannabis with intent to supply, involvement in the supply of cannabis, offering to supply cocaine, and offering to supply a Class B drug, were presented to the EWC panel for consideration regarding the continuation of her registration as a teaching assistant. The panel established that all the allegations were substantiated and that together, they constituted “a relevant offense.” This signifies a conviction for a criminal offense in the United Kingdom that is not materially irrelevant to a person’s suitability for registration with the EWC Wales.
As a result, Rowan’s registration with the EWC was revoked, and she is ineligible to reapply for a period of two years. Should she choose to seek re-registration, she must convincingly demonstrate her rehabilitation and fitness to work as a teaching assistant before a new EWC panel. The panel chair, Mr. Owen, emphasised that “Miss Rowan’s behaviour was unacceptable. It had no impact on learners and took place outside school but had the potential to impact on learners. There was no evidence of remorse or insight or engagement with these proceedings. She is subject to a suspended custodial sentence.”
Rowan retains the right to appeal the EWC Wales decision to the High Court within 28 days.
Documentation from Rowan’s initial appearance in magistrates’ court, when she was 35 years old, indicates her address at the time was Skelmuir Road, Splott. The charges covered a period between March and July 2021, and in relation to the possession of cannabis with intent to supply, Rowan was found to be in possession of 2kg of the drug.
