The lecturer also failed to supervise classes properly putting them at risk, an Education Workforce Council Wales hearing was told
A college lecturer who fell asleep at work, put students at risk not supervising them and used foul language to describe them has been banned. Striking Benjamin Dick off the professional register an Education Workforce Council Wales committee concluded he had shown “reckless disregard” to its code of conduct. Dick referred to his students at Coleg Ceredigion as “f****** sh**” and d****heads” and said one was “a right c***”, the panel was told.
Dick also fell asleep “snoring” at work, played games on his mobile phone and threw his phone and a crocodile clip down in anger. He also kicked a toilet door at work, the panel heard.
The automative engineering lecturer did not supervise his classes, putting them at risk when they worked under cars in the college workshop. Students risked being “crushed” under cars because of lack of supervision by Dick, a lecturer in the department had told the committee.
The further education teacher started working at the college in September 2019 but resigned in March 2024 after concerns were raised by fellow lecturer Antony Goellnitz and an investigation launched. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
During the four day hearing, held remotely from July 7 to 10, Mr Goellnitz, an experienced lecturer who worked in the same department said Dick would “not supervise as he should” and sat in his office “on a daily basis” on the phone with his feet on the desk while students worked. He had also thrown a phone down, hurled crocodile clip students pinned to his back and kicked a toilet door.
Students, most of whom were aged 16 to 18, but some younger, complained that Dick was not available. Panel chairman Stephen Powell said some of Dick’s level one learners left the course, level two learners didn’t complete until the following year and his behaviour had affected the college’s reputation.
Some students told the panel how he swore all the time. One said it was like being taught by a fellow teenager hearing Dick’s constant foul language.
Considering nine allegations against Dick, for using foul and derogatory language about students and not supervising them, the panel found most proved. Dick was not present and not represented so the allegations were taken as denied.
However, committee chairman Mr Powell said Dick had gone some way to admitting some of the matters in an email to the EWC and during the college investigation.
Mr Powell said Dick had admitted during the college investigation that he had “dozed off” at work.
Although he had not fully engaged in the hearing, was not present or represented and did not formally respond to the allegations Dick had said during the investigation that he “fully accepted” some the behaviour he displayed was unacceptable and “deeply regretted that”.
The committee heard that Dick had no previous sanctions against him and provided three character references, although the panel was warned that it was not clear those writing the references knew the allegations he was facing. He had also been experienced some personal problems.
The following allegations against Dick were found proved:
That whilst registered as further education teacher and employed as a lecturer in automotive engineering at Coleg Ceredigion he:
1. On one or more occasions between around 2023 and around February 2024, referred to learners using foul and/or derogatory language in the presence of other staff, namely words to the effect of:
a) “little s**t”; and/or
b) calling learners “thick”; and/or
c) using the word “f**k”; and/or
d) “they are a right c**t”.
2. On one or more occasions between around 2023 and around February 2024, he made comments about learners to other learners or where learners could hear, which were inappropriate and/or derogatory, namely:
a) calling learners “d**khead” and/or “d**kheads”; and/or
b) referring to the Level 1 group as “a f**king s**t group”; and/or
c) telling the Level 2 group that the Level 1 learners were: i. getting on your nerves; and/or ii. being irritating or annoying, or words to that effect; and/or
d) saying that a learner was “f**king annoying”.
3. On one or more occasions between around September 2022 and February 2024, he behaved in an inappropriate or unprofessional manner in the presence of colleagues and/or learners in that he:
a) shouted and/or swore angrily; and/or
b) threw one or more items; and/or
c) kicked a door; and/or
d) referred to his partner as a “c**t”, and/or, in a derogatory way.
4. On one or more occasions between around September 2022 and February 2024, he left learners unsupervised and/or without adequate supervision within the workshop;
5. In or around January and/or February 2024, he allowed learners to work on a learner’s car:
a) without adequate supervision
6. In or around December 2023, he allowed learners to work on his car:
a) without adequate supervision; and/or
b) without checking their work before driving the car; and/or
c) allowed the car to be driven without working headlights.
7. On one or more occasions between around September 2022 and around February 2024, he was asleep at work, during working hours.
8. On one or more occasions between around September 2022 and around February 2024, he played games on his mobile phone during workshop and/or theory lessons and/or working hours.
Two sub allegations that Dick allowed a student’s car to leave the college without checking it after repairs and/or allowing the car to be driven in an unsafe state in or around January and/or February 2024 were found not proved. The panel heard that during the college investigation Dick said he had not told the student he could drive the car away.
Having found most of the allegations proved on the final day of the hearing on July 10 the panel deemed that this amounted to unacceptable professional conduct by Dick.
Striking Dick off with a Prohibition Sanction on the last day of the hearing on July 10 the panel decided he may not apply to be re-admitted to the register for two years. He would then have to satisfy a committee that he should be re-admitted.
Dick has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
