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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Teacher denies 'hours on the web' | Teacher denies 'hours on the web' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A teacher has denied spending hours on the internet during class time, buying goods and using social network sites. | A teacher has denied spending hours on the internet during class time, buying goods and using social network sites. |
| Sian Mediana, 40, of Ogmore Vale, near Bridgend, denies professional misconduct at a hearing of the General Teaching Council for Wales. | Sian Mediana, 40, of Ogmore Vale, near Bridgend, denies professional misconduct at a hearing of the General Teaching Council for Wales. |
| Mrs Mediana, who resigned from Fairwater Primary School in Cardiff, said she used the internet only occasionally for personal use. | Mrs Mediana, who resigned from Fairwater Primary School in Cardiff, said she used the internet only occasionally for personal use. |
| She said other members of staff had access to her computer. | She said other members of staff had access to her computer. |
| The disciplinary hearing in Cardiff was told that Ms Mediana, 40, a single mother of two, spent up to four hours a day tapping at a computer on her desk, with her pupils just feet away. | The disciplinary hearing in Cardiff was told that Ms Mediana, 40, a single mother of two, spent up to four hours a day tapping at a computer on her desk, with her pupils just feet away. |
| Two teaching assistants said she was often seen "trawling the internet". | Two teaching assistants said she was often seen "trawling the internet". |
| I regularly checked my Lloyds' account, I hold my hands up to that. I am sorry Sian Mediana | I regularly checked my Lloyds' account, I hold my hands up to that. I am sorry Sian Mediana |
| Mrs Mediana told the hearing that she did check her bank account and order school books from eBay on the computer in her classroom, but never during lesson time. | Mrs Mediana told the hearing that she did check her bank account and order school books from eBay on the computer in her classroom, but never during lesson time. |
| "I regularly checked my Lloyds' account, I hold my hands up to that. I am sorry," she said. | "I regularly checked my Lloyds' account, I hold my hands up to that. I am sorry," she said. |
| She said this was either before or after school, or during breaks. | She said this was either before or after school, or during breaks. |
| She said the head teacher Heather Thomas knew that she had ordered 60 books from eBay because she gave her the receipts. | She said the head teacher Heather Thomas knew that she had ordered 60 books from eBay because she gave her the receipts. |
| She said she was never given a copy of the school's internet policy. | She said she was never given a copy of the school's internet policy. |
| She said it was standard practice for staff to use the computer suite for personal use at lunch times, and she had seen other teachers were booking flights on the internet. All this internet activity was specific to Ms Mediana's computer Damien Phillips, for the General Teaching Council for Wales | |
| Ms Mediana said she was not always able to leave the classroom during breaks because there needed to be at least two staff members with the children, so she used the computer in her room. | Ms Mediana said she was not always able to leave the classroom during breaks because there needed to be at least two staff members with the children, so she used the computer in her room. |
| Asked why her colleagues said they regularly saw her accessing personal sites and eBay, she claimed: "They were scared of losing their jobs." | Asked why her colleagues said they regularly saw her accessing personal sites and eBay, she claimed: "They were scared of losing their jobs." |
| Asked if she was suggesting they were lying, she replied: "I am." | Asked if she was suggesting they were lying, she replied: "I am." |
| She also told the hearing her children used the internet when they came into class with her and that there were times when the internet was being used when she was not even there. | She also told the hearing her children used the internet when they came into class with her and that there were times when the internet was being used when she was not even there. |
| Summing up, Damian Phillips, representing the teaching council, said: "She disputes accessing the internet at the times in question, but she cannot give a conclusive answer as to how her computer was being used, if not by her." | Summing up, Damian Phillips, representing the teaching council, said: "She disputes accessing the internet at the times in question, but she cannot give a conclusive answer as to how her computer was being used, if not by her." |
| Identity | Identity |
| He said Ms Mediana's teaching assistants, Wendy Jones and Karen Lawrence, had told the hearing she told them she was using the internet for personal use. | He said Ms Mediana's teaching assistants, Wendy Jones and Karen Lawrence, had told the hearing she told them she was using the internet for personal use. |
| He said Mrs Lawrence had given evidence that Ms Mediana was on the internet for up to three hours a day. | He said Mrs Lawrence had given evidence that Ms Mediana was on the internet for up to three hours a day. |
| Mrs Jones told the hearing Ms Mediana would turn her computer screen away from her pupils while accessing the internet. | Mrs Jones told the hearing Ms Mediana would turn her computer screen away from her pupils while accessing the internet. |
| "All this internet activity was specific to Ms Mediana's computer," he said. | "All this internet activity was specific to Ms Mediana's computer," he said. |
| "It is wholly unreasonable to believe other teachers were coming in during teaching hours, logging on to the internet using her computer and her identity." | "It is wholly unreasonable to believe other teachers were coming in during teaching hours, logging on to the internet using her computer and her identity." |
| Mr Phillips even if she did not have a copy of the school's policy on internet use, it was reasonable to assume such use would not have been allowed. | Mr Phillips even if she did not have a copy of the school's policy on internet use, it was reasonable to assume such use would not have been allowed. |
| "The fact it was a class of children with behavioural difficulties means they would need greater attention," he said. | "The fact it was a class of children with behavioural difficulties means they would need greater attention," he said. |
| "It's not in dispute that she is a very capable teacher when she applies herself. All witnesses spoke very highly of her. | "It's not in dispute that she is a very capable teacher when she applies herself. All witnesses spoke very highly of her. |
| "The issue is she does not apply herself when using the internet during teaching time." | "The issue is she does not apply herself when using the internet during teaching time." |
| The local education authority carried out a four-day surveillance after being contacted by the head teacher about the level of internet usage at the school. | The local education authority carried out a four-day surveillance after being contacted by the head teacher about the level of internet usage at the school. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |