Boy shut himself in to avoid assembly

A CLASSROOM assistant used a 20p coin to unlock a toilet cubicle and check on a young boy who had been inside for several hours without food or water, a professional standards hearing has heard.

The incident occurred at Waldo Williams Primary School in Haverfordwest on May 22, 2023, when a pupil, referred to as Child A, shut himself in the toilet to avoid attending a school assembly. He remained in the cubicle from around 11:00am until after 3:00pm, according to teaching assistant Samantha Thomas, who gave evidence to the Education Workforce Council on Monday (April 8).

Mrs Thomas said she repeatedly checked on the child, asking if he needed anything to eat or drink, but he did not respond. She eventually used a coin to release the door mechanism and partially open the door, which opened inwards. Inside, she saw the child sitting in the small cubicle—approximately two metres square—which contained a toilet, basin and, unusually, a chair.

Despite her concerns, Mrs Thomas said she was instructed by class teacher Sally Berry not to interact with the child while he remained in the cubicle. Mrs Berry allegedly told her the boy’s behaviour plan required minimal stimulation and that he should be left to calm himself.

However, under questioning, Mrs Thomas said she did not see Mrs Berry personally check on the child during that time, aside from overhearing her say, “Are you alright, buddy?” at one point. She also confirmed that although the door was closed, she knew it could be opened using the slot-lock from outside.

The panel heard that the child often used the toilet as a “safe space” and had not wanted to attend assembly that day. But former headteacher Cora O’Brien, who had worked closely with Mrs Berry before retiring, said that if such an incident had happened during her leadership, it would have triggered serious safeguarding concerns and the senior management team would have been alerted immediately.

Debbie Williams, who was the acting headteacher at the time of the incident, told the hearing she had not been informed about the situation until near the end of the school day. She confirmed that senior leaders were unaware the child had been in the cubicle for such a long period.

The panel is considering a number of allegations against Mrs Berry. These include claims that she:

• Allowed the pupil to remain in the toilet for more than three hours;
• Failed to provide proper guidance to teaching assistants about how to respond in line with the child’s behavioural support plan;
• Did not ensure the child was supervised over the lunch break;
• Failed to notify senior staff or the pupil’s parents in a timely manner;
• Misrepresented how often she had checked on the child;
• Submitted a behaviour report containing inaccurate information.

Mrs Berry is also accused of a separate safeguarding failure involving another child, referred to as Child X, in January 2023. She allegedly did not report a threatening comment made by the pupil to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Person or to the local authority’s Child Care Assessment Team in a timely manner.

The hearing continues.

TWO Pembrokeshire College learners are setting out on a journey of a lifetime, in an intrepid bid to do the UK proud at the next WorldSkills Competition; to be held in Shanghai in September 2026.

Following their success in the national skills competitions, beauty therapy learner Erin Owens and welder Luke Roberts will now join an intensive 18-month training programme with the hope of being selected for the team that will represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai in autumn 2026.

Known as the ‘skills olympics’, it is the first time China has hosted the prestigious WorldSkills competition. The event will see 1,500 young people travel to Shanghai from over 80 counties to compete in technical skill disciplines from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality, in front of an audience of 250,000.

On making it through to Squad UK, Luke commented: “I am excited about the opportunity ahead and eager to contribute. I have already commenced my training with Carl Parish in Wrexham, and with the high-quality training I received at Pembrokeshire College, combined with my experience at Haven Engineering, I am confident in my ability to handle any tasks assigned to me. It’s a huge honour to be selected to compete, I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.”

The WorldSkills competition is considered by global experts as the ultimate test of a nation’s ability to meet future skills needs. It is attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.

Pembrokeshire College has a long history of learners making it through to UK Squad training with carpenter Chris Caine and chef Sam Everton making it through to the World Finals in Russia in 2019 where they were both highly commended in their respective competitions.

College Principal, Dr Barry Walters commented: “We are exceptionally proud of Erin and Luke for earning their place in Squad UK—a testament to their talent, dedication, and hard work. This opportunity to compete at the highest level is not just about showcasing their skills but about pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and striving for excellence. As they embark on this intensive journey towards the world finals, they carry with them the spirit of our College, inspiring others to dream big and achieve even bigger. We wish them every success!”

WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the international WorldSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK, and by working with education, industry and UK governments it is embedding world class training standards throughout the skills sector. This is helping to meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in crucial sectors including engineering, digital, manufacturing and construction.

The UK will be competing in over 30 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, including 3D Digital Game Art, Robot Systems Integration and Renewable Energy.

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to both Erin and Luke on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, they will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy. With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.”

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications said: “Pearson is proud to sponsor Team UK! Boosting the profile and prestige of technical and vocational education is incredibly important to us and I wish this talented group of 86 young people from across the country the best of luck as they begin their training programme towards competing in Shanghai.”

Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.

COLEG CAMBRIA has launched a suite of new higher education qualifications designed to equip the next generation of agricultural leaders in Wales.

The state-of-the-art land-based college, which has campuses in Wrexham, Deeside, Northop and Llysfasi, has unveiled Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes aimed at future farm managers, shepherds, farmers, and rural business professionals.

The new courses will be delivered at the college’s Llysfasi campus near Ruthin, where a £10 million Innovation Hub – Hwb Arloesi – was recently opened. Plans have also been submitted for a 50-bedroom student accommodation block to support the growing demand for agricultural education in the region.

Modules on offer include Business and Business Environment, Managing a Successful Project, Principles of Livestock Production, Animal Health and Welfare, Land-based Machinery and Technology, and Rural Business Administration and Accounting.

Emma Hurst, Dean of Access and Higher Education at Coleg Cambria, said the new qualifications are designed to meet the evolving needs of the agricultural sector.

“These programmes provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge, advanced technical skills, and the opportunity to pursue a wide range of careers across the land-based industries,” she said.

“In addition to access to expert lecturers and guest speakers, students on the HNC and HND programmes benefit from hands-on experience at Llysfasi’s commercial 1,000-acre farm, which includes dairy, suckler, and sheep enterprises.

“With developments in precision agriculture, smart farming technologies and new environmental challenges, there’s never been a more exciting time to enter the sector – and no better place to learn than Coleg Cambria.”

The Hwb Arloesi development, backed by more than £5.9 million from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, spans 1,095 square metres across two carbon-neutral storeys. Built by Wrexham-based Read Construction, the facility includes classrooms, laboratories, a library, coffee shop, climbing wall, meeting spaces, atrium, Higher Education centre, and a wellbeing hub.

Elin Roberts, Head of Llysfasi, praised the impact the new building has already had.

“The hub is incredible – the equipment, teaching and learning spaces, and overall environment are unmatched in this region,” she said.

“It’s a huge boost for both students and staff. Those enrolling on our FE and HE agriculture programmes now have access to cutting-edge facilities in a welcoming, innovative learning environment.

“This is the perfect time to choose Coleg Cambria as the next step in your agricultural career.”

For more information on the new agriculture courses at Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk, email he@cambria.ac.uk, or call 01978 515477. Follow Coleg Cambria on social media for updates.