Yahoo News Headteacher who skipped school during affair with pupil's mum said he was 'popping to Co-op'
Aled Ree has apologised for having an extra-marital relationship and has since left his job in south-west Wales.
A married headteacher who skipped school during an affair with a pupil's mum told his assistant he was going to the local supermarket, a disciplinary hearing has heard.
Aled Rees has apologised for having an extramarital relationship with the mother whose child attended his Ysgol Teilo Sant school in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales.
He was seen having long chats with the mum at the school gates, taking long absences from duty and having personal phone calls in the head office.
A disciplinary hearing was told Rees admitted five breaches of professional standard, including an "extramarital relationship".
The Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel heard that Rees joined Ysgol Teilo Sant as head in January 2018 before quitting in February 2021.
Between September 2018 and February 2020, it is alleged he “spent an excessive amount of time” away from the site during the school day without consistently telling colleagues or arranging cover.
Assistant head Maureen Williams said this left the 180-pupil school without the safeguarding lead or anyone taking overall responsibility.
The hearing heard Rees would be absent for periods ranging from 45 minutes to several hours and once for a whole afternoon - with rumours he was seeing the mother of a pupil identified only as Learner A.
Mrs Williams said: "Although there was no evidence of an affair there was a rumour and people witnessed the head and a pupil’s mother talking together for long periods at the school gates each morning."
She asked Rees to let her know when he was leaving the site.
“He didn’t give any reason other than he was popping to the Co-op for food,” she added.
Mrs Williams began keeping records of the head’s departures and said she noticed he left his work phone in school.
Year five teacher Elen Davies, 25, told the panel that Rees sometimes spent half an hour chatting to the parent at the school gate in the mornings.
Ms Davies later informed Rees she was pregnant, and shortly afterwards, when Mrs Davies complained her class had been moved, she claimed Rees told her "that’s what you get for opening your legs” – or words to that effect.
Rees admits five allegations but denies making the "open your legs" comments.
He admitted "by virtue of his extramarital relationship with the mother of a child at the school, he placed himself in a position where there was a conflict of interest."
He told the hearing: “I recognise my fault and blame. I take the blame.”
Rees faces being struck off the teaching register for his behaviour after a string of complaints.
The hearing was told he has since left the school and does not intend to continue working in education.
The hearing continues.
