**Allegations of Unprofessional Conduct Levelled Against Coleg Ceredigion Lecturer**
Serious allegations have been made against a former lecturer at Coleg Ceredigion, who is accused of multiple instances of unprofessional behaviour over recent years. Benjamin Dick, once employed to teach automotive engineering, is said to have used offensive language towards students, permitted potentially dangerous car repairs, and was allegedly found asleep during work hours. His conduct is under review by the Education Workforce Council Wales (EWC) panel as they weigh the consequences of his alleged actions.
The claims surfaced during a recent professional standards hearing, where testimony painted a concerning picture of Dick’s attitude and supervision practices. It is alleged Dick referred to his students in derogatory terms, including using expletives and insults, and, on several occasions, labelled groups of students and individuals with profoundly inappropriate language. According to colleague and department peer Anthony Goellnitz, these comments were made publicly, often in the presence of both staff and students, contributing to a workplace environment that Goellnitz described as both disrespectful and unsafe for learners.
Concerns about safety in the automotive workshops formed a central part of the hearing. Dick is accused of allowing his students to work on a fellow learner’s car, which subsequently left the premises without the repairs being properly checked. This car reportedly suffered a mechanical failure, potentially putting its young driver and other road users at risk. Goellnitz explained that the error, the result of an incorrectly fitted suspension bolt, not only caused significant financial damage but also posed a real threat to safety, stating, “Every single nut and bolt needs to be checked by yourself before it leaves the workshop.”
Further allegations include Dick frequently leaving students—many as young as 16—unsupervised in the workshop, a location where strict oversight is necessary due to the inherent dangers of working with heavy vehicles and machinery. Goellnitz recounted instances where students worked beneath raised vehicles without adequate supervision, warning, “It can be a dangerous environment in the workshop… a car could fall and if a student was underneath, it could crush a student.”
Beyond concerns of language and safety, Dick was also accused of habitual inattentiveness to his teaching duties. It was alleged that he regularly retreated to his office, where he would remain with his feet on his desk, speaking on his phone, and, at times, falling asleep. Goellnitz detailed how students would complain about the lecturer’s unavailability, and described seeing Dick dozing in his chair with his head back and feet up during working hours, preparation time, and breaks.
The scope of the allegations stretches over a period from 2022 to early 2024, encompassing claims of Dick playing mobile games during lessons, shouting angrily, swearing, and even physically lashing out at objects—behaviour seen by both students and colleagues. Despite the mounting allegations, Dick, who worked at the college from 2019 until his resignation in March 2024, was not present, nor represented, at the disciplinary hearing. The committee noted that Dick had communicated via email to the EWC, admitting that “most of the facts of the allegations set out are to some degree accurate and true,” though he disputed claims related to allowing students into restricted areas.
The EWC hearing continues to examine whether Dick’s actions constitute unacceptable professional conduct and how this case will impact not only his career but also future safety and standards within educational workshops. The case brings fresh scrutiny to the importance of oversight and professionalism in vocational training environments, particularly where young people are entrusted with potentially hazardous hands-on tasks.
The final decision from the EWC panel remains pending, with the hearing set to continue, as the educational community, regulators, and public await its outcome. The incident has prompted conversations about staff training, student safeguarding, and the protocols necessary to maintain both safety and respect in learning spaces.
Coleg Ceredigion has yet to issue a full public statement concerning the ongoing investigation but is understood to be cooperating fully with the professional standards committee. The case serves as a reminder of the vital responsibility educators hold, not only in fostering knowledge but also in safeguarding the welfare and dignity of every learner under their care.