Health and Safety gone mad?

January 11th, 2011 by James Goudie KC

The Parc Hotel Cardiff is the venue for a 2 day hearing before the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Teaching Council for Wales.  Unacceptable professional conduct is alleged on the part of a teacher at the Cefn Hengoed Community School in Swansea.  The teacher was Head of Technology at the School.  He was dismissed when he took a racing sledge into the School to demonstrate design technology to his class of 15 year olds.  He demonstrated the sledge himself on a snowy slope. He then let 2 boys follow suit.  They were unharmed; but he was dismissed and now faces being struck off the teaching register.  Why?  Because he took the sledge to the School without the Head’s authorisation; because he failed to provide a written risk assessment; and because he did not ensure that the pupils were wearing protective headgear and protective clothing.

James Goudie QC

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