Shôn Rowcliffe also swore, raised his middle finger at a fellow teacher, and was ‘immature’ during a stay in France with pupils
15:03, 01 Oct 2026
Ysgol Bro Preseli in Crymych, Pembrokeshire(Image: Media Wales)
A Welsh teacher came back from the pub drunk during a school trip and hit a pupil. Shôn Rowcliffe worked as a cover teacher with the physical education department at Ysgol Bro Preseli in Crymych, Pembrokeshire, in 2024.
As part of his role he organised the school’s participation in a football tournament being held in France as part of a twinning event between Crymych and Plomelin, a commune in Brittany.
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, Rowcliffe went to a local pub and came back drunk, an Education Workforce Council (EWC) hearing was told. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter.
According to another member of staff, Martin Edwards, Rowcliffe “was drunk, was angry, was swearing at me and the hosts, and being very loud and embarrassing in front of the people who had organised the trip”. As well as swearing Rowcliffe raised his middle finger at Mr Edwards.
Rowcliffe also, according to evidence heard at the fitness to practice hearing, “hit or slapped Pupil A across the chest”.
Oral evidence was given at the hearing by the male pupil, who was able to provide a detailed recollection of events. He said Rowcliffe was drinking alcohol throughout the entire trip and he thought Rowcliffe was drunk a lot of the time.
On the evening of the incident Pupil A stated that he saw Rowcliffe drinking alcohol and was “acting drunk”. Another pupil said Rowcliffe was drinking alcohol throughout the trip and that he saw him drinking beer and acting “immature”.
On the day in question Pupil A recalled that Rowcliffe was sitting on a plastic table about five metres away when he called the student over to him.
He said the teacher told him: “You’re s***” and then hit him across the chest. The pupil told some of his friends and pulled up his top to reveal a red handprint on his chest.
Another pupil confirmed he had witnessed the incident.
Mr Edwards was told about what had happened and was shown the red mark by Pupil A. The teacher then subsequently raised concerns with school staff when the group returned from France on May 14, 2024.
At the conclusion of the hearing a panel found the following allegations against Rowcliffe proven: “On or around May 11, 2024, whilst having responsibility for one or more pupils on a school trip and/or being in the presence of one or more pupils on a school trip, you a) were under the influence of alcohol to such a degree that it was not appropriate for you to have responsibility for one or more pupils, b) hit and/or slapped Pupil A across the chest, c) on one or more occasions, swore and/or used obscene language, and d) raised your middle finger.”
A further allegation, that Rowcliffe asked a pupil to keep the incident a secret, was not proven.
The panel found that Rowcliffe’s conduct amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.
It noted that Rowcliffe engaged with the school and the EWC, attended the hearing, admitted two of the allegations (that he swore and raised his middle finger at a colleague), and that he was “of previous good character”.
The panel was also satisfied Rowcliffe’s behaviour during the trip to France was “an isolated incident”.
Despite those findings Rowcliffe, who left his job at Ysgol Bro Preseli on June 20, 2024, was made the subject of a suspension order, banning him from working in education in Wales for a period of two years effective immediately.
Rowcliffe has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.
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