Call for new rules governing private schools in wake of 'terrible episode' at Ruthin school

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The importance of the governance of private schools has been highlighted amid calls for greater supervision and checks in the wake of the messaging scandal centred around sacked Ruthin School principal, Toby Belfield.

In the Senedd today, Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd said wider lessons must be learned from the "terrible episode" when he raised the matter with the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams.

Mr Belfield was sacked earlier this month after sending inappropriate messages to school girls as young as 15.

The school is now trying to rebuild its reputation with a new temporary principal in charge.

Mr Gruffydd said:  “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Daily Post for an old-fashioned scoop that brought this issue to the wider public and to help bring matters to a head.

 

  

“Now that ‘heads have rolled’, we must now look to the future and the wider lessons of this terrible episode.

“It became clear that independent schools are not subject to the same rules as Local Authority schools and that is a huge concern when something goes wrong.

“We need to look at teachers in independent schools to be registered with the Education Workforce Council.”

   

Mr Gruffydd later pointed out that only teachers with qualified teacher status are currently allowed to register with the EWC and there is no requirement to join when working in an independent school.

The EWC have the ability to remove a teacher from the register for failing to meet professional standards, whereas in the case of Ruthin it seemed that if it didn’t reach a criminal threshold then there was little external agencies could do.

Mr Gruffydd also called for more rigid requirements of governing bodies adding that one of the governors should be appointed by the local authority as required in the state sector.

He also called for increased powers for Estyn to remove governors or senior leadership under professional conduct concerns.

Mr Gruffydd concluded: “Not all of this is devolved but I just want to understand what the Welsh Government is now doing so ensure the experience in Ruthin School isn’t one that can happen anywhere else.”

Kirsty Williams thanked Mr Gruffydd for his input into the matter and confirmed that the issues at Ruthin raised fundamental issues regarding independent schools.

The scandal raised questions about the reputation of independent schools generally.

John Waszek, executive principal of Rydal Penrhos School said: "I do think that independent schools should be part of the Education Workforce Council.

"I think that it would be good for staff but it adds a layer to the safeguarding agenda and protocols.

"I don’t believe that the news from Ruthin will damage independent schools generally.

"But I do hope that it shows to governing bodies that governance is really important and that keeping children safe from harm is their most important priority.

"These sorts of situations are desperately sad, and they can make everyone check and where necessary improve their existing practices.

"That might be little comfort for the victims but its important to learn from these situations and therefore seek to ensure that there are fewer victims in the future."

He added: "This doesn’t mean that we don’t face safeguarding issues because every school will do so.

"It does mean that I sleep a little better at night if I know that I have staff who are well trained, experienced and vigilant to deal with issues should they arise."