Former assistant head of school where a girl stabbed teachers reveals ‘warning signs were there’
In a recent revelation, Ceri Myers, the ex-deputy assistant head teacher who has left Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, expressed his belief that there were evident warning signs indicating potential danger for teachers and students at the school. The tragic incident involved a pupil stabbing two teachers and another student at the school in Carmarthenshire. Myers stated that he had raised concerns about pupil behaviour in a letter to the Welsh Government just weeks before the incident took place.
Myers appeared on S4C affairs programme Y Byd ar Bedwar, where he disclosed his belief that warning signs indicating potential danger were present in the school. He had sent a total of seven emails to the Welsh Government expressing his concerns, with the last email being sent on the morning of the attack in Ammanford. Following the distressing incident, Myers decided to resign from his position. He currently works in a different role in England, focusing on ensuring pupil safety, a crucial aspect in today’s educational settings.
Disturbingly, Myers revealed that he had been physically assaulted multiple times within the past year, underscoring the challenging environment educators are facing. In response to a freedom of information request by BBC Wales, it was found that children as young as those in year two have been discovered with blades on school premises. The data showed that in Carmarthenshire alone, three teenage pupils were found in possession of a blade within two months after the incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. Additionally, there were four recorded incidents of weapons being brought onto school grounds during the academic year 2023-24.
Furthermore, various councils in Wales reported concerning incidents related to weapons in schools. Gwynedd council reported six incidents during the 2023-24 academic year, while in Powys, a pupil was arrested and charged following an incident involving a blade at a secondary school. The Vale of Glamorgan council also shared an alarming incident where a teacher was threatened with a sharp object by a year nine pupil. Myers highlighted the challenges faced when communicating these issues to local authorities, expressing frustration at the lack of support for permanent exclusion of individuals wielding weapons.
The spokesman for Carmarthenshire council responded, stating they were not aware of any conflicts between the school and the local authority. Welsh Government’s education minister Lynne Neagle acknowledged the pressing need for action, mentioning the upcoming behaviour summit aimed at addressing these critical issues. The government is developing a behaviour toolkit to assist schools in managing challenging behaviour effectively. Neagle emphasised the importance of implementing strong guidance on reasons for exclusion, citing that carrying a knife in school could warrant automatic exclusion.
The 14-year-old girl involved in the distressing incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman is set to be sentenced for attempted murder on April 28. Head teacher Fiona Elias expressed her sentiments, highlighting that no school staff member should ever feel jeopardised while carrying out their duties. The verdict of the impending case is anticipated to send a clear message to pupils across the country regarding the severity of such actions. Elias urged for measures to prevent others from enduring similar nightmares, echoing a plea for enhanced safety and security within educational environments.
In conclusion, the revelations by Ceri Myers shed light on the critical need to address behavioural concerns and safeguard the well-being of all individuals within school premises. The incidents serve as a chilling reminder of the challenges faced by educators and the imperative to foster safe learning environments for students across the educational landscape.