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‘Evil’ school teacher banned for life

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evilA VETERAN primary school teacher has been banned from the classroom for life for physically assaulting pupils as young as five.

Margaret Wood-Robinson was so feared by one of her six-year-old victims, he branded her an “evil” teacher.

Other pupils were pinched, pushed, slapped, bruised and routinely dragged around during a five-year classroom reign of terror.Wood-Robinson, aged in her late 50s, worked at St Mary’s Roman Catholic VA Primary School in Pembroke Dock for 35 years.

The General Teaching Council for Wales panel heard evidence that pupils regularly returned home with bruises and red marks on their arms after a day at school and were allegedly even hit for asking for help, it was claimed.A joint police and social services investigation in 2011, carried out while she was suspended, interviewed pupils, parents and teaching staff, but stopped short of a criminal prosecution.

Mrs Wood-Robinson was suspended from school in mid-2012 when an internal inquiry into her conduct was launched. Wood-Robinson failed to attend a General Teaching Council of Wales hearing into her professional conduct, sitting in Cardiff, which concluded after two days.

It found nine allegations of physically assaulting or inappropriately touching nine pupils to be substantially proved. The GTCW panel found her behaviour collectively amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and passed an indefinite prohibition order. It means her name will be removed from the teaching register in Wales for good, effectively a ban covering the rest of her life.

The headteacher of St Mary’s School in Pembroke Dock declined to comment, but a spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Pembrokeshire County Council welcomes the decision by the General Teaching Council for Wales.

“The authority takes the safeguarding and well-being of its school pupils extremely seriously.

“We are pleased to have assisted in this investigation and played a part in bringing it to a successful conclusion.”

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Gertie Grumbles

    March 15, 2014 at 11:01 pm

    This is incredibly sad. No teacher is evil. Many teachers are stressed beyond endurance by badly behaved pupils and management that will not manage. Also by having to work incredibly long hours with impossible demands. I wonder how much support this lady had, in her difficulties, from the school\’s management team? Probably none. Sack the head, too! Obviously not doing her job!

  2. Stephanie brown

    March 15, 2014 at 11:20 pm

    Gertie grumbles… In reply to your comment..yes this teacher is evil! Perhaps you don\’t have children but any person that abuses a child which is what she did to many children is evil end of! I am a nurse, work under pressure and long hours with patients with dentist who hit and spit and punch, would that make it ok for me to hit them?? No it wouldn\’t!

  3. shelley Hawkridge Jones

    March 16, 2014 at 8:06 am

    She was a professional and had a personal accountability to do her job properly, regardless of the support available to her, but there should also be an investigation into why this was allowed to go on the head should have knowledge of what is going on in every classroom and turning a blind eye would make them as guilt. I to am a Nurse and at present work with neonates, trusted with parents most prized possessions as she was it should be a privilege not a chore.

  4. anon

    March 16, 2014 at 8:26 am

    In response to the lovely ladies above – I am a primary teacher and while I agree with the teacher above being suspended because of alleged physical abuse with the children, I also wonder why teachers are not protected too. If pupils have the right to be safe then so do teachers yet many of my staff and myself regularly go home with bruises and other marks due to children hurting us. They never seem to get reprimanded!!!! The government has taken away any real form of ‘punishment’ so the children from a very early age realise that if they are naughty nothing happens other than being spoken to!

    Everyone in a school or educational establishment has the right and basic need to feel safe.

  5. anon

    March 16, 2014 at 8:45 am

    Gertie Grumbles (above comments) “no teacher is evil”, rubbish! this woman is evil, these children were aged 5 – 6 years old, there are no excuses for the fear pain and upset she has caused. We entrust our children into the care of teachers, and she abused that trust.

  6. Mrs mole

    March 16, 2014 at 10:08 am

    I can not believe gertie grumbles is trying to stand up for this evil teacher yes teachers work hard and are under stress but they also get a lot more holidays than a nurse who has a lot more stress so I think u should of thought a bit harder before u left your comment as a mother myself I think this teacher is disgusting us as parents trust teachers to care for our children she certainly did not care. And we as parents get stressed out with the behaviour of our children but it would be wrong of us to treat our own children like that yet u are condoning a teacher doing it . The sad bit is your view these were vaunreble children of 5-6 she is a very evil woman and deserves everything she gets

  7. Sophie

    March 16, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    Stressed out by badly behaved kids? These kids were 5 years old. Can’t handle 5 year olds? Don’t teach!! Do not blame such horrible actions in the victims!

  8. Anon

    March 16, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    my wife was was hit over the head with a big book bye this Teacher 20 years ago in the same school, how has this been un detected for so long

  9. Anon

    March 16, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    Sad thing is as a pupil who was taught by her I have vivid memories of not only the physical abuse, but also the way she would clearly have “favourites” that she would be a lot nicer to. It has probably happened so often that many kids felt disliked and made to feel like the bad children of the class.

  10. Male Anon

    March 21, 2014 at 4:29 pm

    Now that the truth has finally been revealed, it is inevitable that the others who complained in the 90’s but were refused an investigation by the then Headmaster will have their complaints properly investigated. I was a pupil of this teacher in 1987 – her recorded misconduct is only a small timescale of her actual offending.

  11. Teifion

    March 22, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    couldn’t but help but think that’s what ALL teachers were like 30 or more years ago

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Charity

Letterston dog show raises over £750 for local charities

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ON SUNDAY (Dec 22), Letterston Ring Craft successfully raised £755.55 for two Pembrokeshire-based charities during a fun dog show event. The funds were equally split between South Pembrokeshire Cat Rescue and Letterston Memorial Hall.

The event featured a variety of well-attended classes, including child handling and fancy dress, drawing participation from dog enthusiasts of all levels.

This fundraiser marked the first charitable event supporting South Pembrokeshire Cat Rescue. Founded and managed by Lizzy Austwick, the rescue organisation aids unwanted, feral, and sick cats across Pembrokeshire and responds to urgent cases in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. The rescue provides neutering support for stray and feral cats, directs owners to available resources, and specialises in helping stray cats with severe injuries, raising essential funds for their care.

For assistance, Lizzy can be contacted via the rescue’s Facebook page or at 07575 131443.

Letterston Ring Craft welcomes new members interested in training and showing their dogs, from local companion shows to prestigious events like Crufts. The club meets every other Sunday in Letterston, and further details can be found on their Facebook page.

Looking ahead, the next fun dog show is scheduled for early next year and will support Belle’s Story Charity. For more information or to get involved, contact Gentle Lowe at 07956 653401.

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Charity

£3,800 donated to services across Withybush Hospital

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THE CAMROSE VINTAGE WORKING DAY team has donated £3,800 to services across Withybush Hospital.

Their 37th annual event raised a record breaking £25,000, which has now been distributed among 26 local charities.

They donated the funds to the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit and Heads Up! Hair Loss Initiative at Withybush Hospital. Each service received £950.

The Heads Up! initiative provides a person-centred, holistic hair loss service for cancer patients. It brings together healthcare and haircare professionals from local communities to give patients the knowledge and products needed to manage their hair loss with dignity and choice.

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer, said: “Thank you to Andrew, the team and the supporters of the Camrose Vintage Working Day for your generosity once again. Your donation to each service is amazing and will make a big difference. We are hugely grateful for your wonderful support.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

Pictured above: Andrew James, Chairman of Camrose Vintage Working Day with Withybush Hospital staff from the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit, Heads Up! Hair Loss initiative.

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Community

Neyland Community Christmas Lunch a festive success

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NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL rolled up their sleeves to support this year’s Community Christmas Lunch, spreading festive cheer and warm hospitality to attendees on Christmas Day at the Alumchine.

Councillors Steve Campodonic, David Devauden, Steve Thomas, and Brian Rothero began their efforts as early as 7:30am, working tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly.

The dedicated organisers, including Trish Campodonic, Pam, and Lloyd Hamilton, along with other volunteers, created a welcoming space filled with festive spirit and a delicious meal with all the trimmings.

The event brought together members of the community who might otherwise have spent the day alone, highlighting the warmth and generosity that Neyland is known for.

A heartfelt ‘Well done’ to everyone involved for making this Christmas lunch a resounding success and spreading joy to so many.

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