Learning assistant barred from working in schools

A SCHOOL learning support assistant (LSA) who told pupils he had a gun at home, had killed people and had the military codename “Kill Switch” has been struck off and barred from working in schools or FE colleges in Wales for at least two years.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Scott Trigg-Turner

(George Wood)

Scott John Trigg-Turner, who worked at Bassaleg School in Newport, knew his comments to a Year Eight class were untrue, abused his position of trust and lacked insight into how his comments could have affected pupils, a professional standards hearing found.

But the panel chair Helen Beard-Robbins also criticised Bassaleg School for not holding a formal discussion when complaints from his colleagues began to mount up.

Had that been done, the LSA might have had the chance to adjust his behaviour, she said.

Trigg-Turner, a prominent Welsh international wheelchair rugby player for the Wigan Warriors wheelchair rugby league team and former Torfaen Tigers player, worked at Bassaleg School from January 2023 on supply and then as staff from September 2023. He resigned in June 2024 after an internal investigation.

He was not present and not represented at the five-day Education Workforce Council Wales hearing.

That means the allegations were taken as denied and he had also denied them during a school investigation, the panel heard.