A college classroom turned tense when a Gower College lecturer allegedly grabbed a student by the wrist after a phone dispute. In the heat of the moment, the lecturer reportedly vented his frustration by calling his class “a bunch of tossers” and expressing dissatisfaction with his job, as revealed to a professional standards committee.
The incident began when the lecturer asked a student to turn off their phone. After the student refused, things escalated to physical contact and some colourful language. This has now sparked a formal investigation by the Education Workforce Council Wales. The lecturer, Arthur Rowland Thomas, is accused of unacceptable professional conduct, although he wasn’t present at the hearing to defend himself.
Despite the allegations, colleagues describe Thomas as a hard-working team player. Fellow lecturer Richard Sellick said that Thomas came into his office visibly stressed after the confrontation, indicating the class had been causing him ongoing issues. Some students even mentioned that Thomas’s actions were out of character.
Thomas has been with Gower College since 2016, teaching a group of students with some additional challenges. His manager, Hannah Pearce, admitted he was remorseful after the incident and should have handled things differently, like asking the student to leave the class instead.
Thomas, who has decided not to participate in the hearing, admitted to grabbing the student’s wrist and using harsh language, regretting the incident and expressing that it blemishes his otherwise solid career record. The hearing continues as we wait to see what outcomes this classroom clash will bring.