Teaching assistant struck off for messaging pupils

A teaching assistant who messaged schoolgirls on social media asking for photos and telling one he found her attractive has been struck off the teaching register.

Samuel Davies, who worked at Haverfordwest High, contacted two pupils in their mid-teens via Snapchat using the name “Sam Bear Davies”, requesting inappropriate photos and making sexual comments.

In messages to one girl, identified as Learner B, Davies wrote: “I want to see that body (smiling emoji) and a few pix maybe? xx.” He followed up asking: “asking you for pix and stuff, you cool with that kind of thing or are you not really into it?”

When another pupil, identified as Pupil A, accepted his friend request on Snapchat, she was shocked to receive a message from Davies which read: “Oh hey, I am your teacher. Don’t tell anyone, I would get into trouble, but I think you’re really attractive.”

The Education Workforce Council Wales panel heard Davies, employed through apprentice agency Ap Prentis, was escorted off school premises in October 2022 when pupils reported the messages.

The hearing, which sat virtually from 8-11 December, also heard there had been previous complaints about Davies’ behaviour, including offering under-age pupils drags of a vape off school premises. He had also sent Pupil B photos of himself vaping in the school disabled toilet.

On another occasion he was seen in the school sixth form area, where he had no reason to be, talking to a female student about what pubs and clubs she could get into under-18.

Giving evidence during the four-day hearing, Pupil B said the messages Davies sent her made her feel uncomfortable and she felt “mortified” sharing it at the hearing.

Deputy head and safeguarding lead Tracy Edwards told the panel she had been part of the interview process to appoint Davies in January 2022. He had settled in well, been proactive and was liked in his job.

However, in September 2022 she had to speak to him on a number of occasions about professional boundaries after hearsay complaints were raised. These reports included that he offered children vapes just off school premises, though CCTV footage had not corroborated that claim.

There were also claims he had been heard telling a pupil “you look good” and to others he suggested meeting up and going for a “sesh”, or words to that effect.

Mrs Edwards said Davies’ appearance had also changed and he wore an earring and his sleeves rolled up to show tattoos. But it wasn’t until the school girls shared screenshots of the social media messages he sent that a formal allegation followed and he was told to leave the premises whilst an investigation was launched.

Davies resigned in January 2023. Police also investigated but took no action, the hearing was told.

Davies did not engage with the EWC hearing, was not present and not represented and therefore all the allegations were taken as denied. He has in any case denied all the allegations during a school investigation.

The committee concluded that Davies’ actions in messaging the girls was sexual in nature and sexually motivated. Despite warnings from Mrs Edwards about his behaviour being too familiar with pupils, it escalated to messaging pupils.

Chair Robert Newsome said Davies’ behaviour had directly impacted pupils and he knew what he was doing was wrong. He said: “This was a pattern that started after Samuel Davies was employed. Samuel Davies knew what he was doing was wrong.

“He took steps to conceal by messaging Learner A that she must not tell anyone about this message ‘or I wil get into trouble’.

“He did not engage with the EWC and there is no evidence of insight, regret or remorse.”

Mr Newsome said Davies’ actions had directly impacted on pupils and their wellbeing and he had “deep seated attitudinal problems that could be a significant risk to learners”. He had abused his position and targeted children under the age of 16.

“It is particularly concerning that Davies put his own sexual interests first with no thought of the impact of his behaviour on learners,” said Mr Newsome.

Finding a raft of allegations against Davies proved, the committee concluded they amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and that some of the allegations found proved were sexually motivated and of a sexual nature.

Mr Newsome said Davies was apparently of previous good character with no EWC sanctions against him.

Striking Davies off the EWC register indefinitely, the committee ruled that Davies may not apply to be re-instated for five years. Davies has the right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days.