A WOMAN has been banned from working in further education in Wales after she did not disclose her previous convictions when applying for a job with a North Wales college group.

Sophie Tinsley was handed a 12-month suspension order following a hearing of the Education Workforce Council (EWC)’s Fitness to Practise Committee on March 21 and 22.

It was heard that, in May 2012, Ms Tinsley was convicted of failing to provide a sample of breath for analysis, which landed her a £375 fine and a driving ban of 18 months.

She was convicted again in November 2018, after driving more than three times the legal alcohol limit, which resulted in a four-year disqualification from the roads and a community order.

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In October 2021, she did not disclose her convictions when applying for a role as a part-time lecturer in hairdressing at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (GLM), which comprises three colleges in Colwyn Bay, Bangor and Dolgellau.

When she applied for registration with the EWC as a further education teacher in November 2021, she incorrectly declared that she had no convictions.

In her application to GLM, Ms Tinsley also submitted an incomplete copy of her Disclosure and Barring Service certificate by not providing the pages which contained details of all of her convictions.

This was denied by Ms Tinsley at the start of the hearing, but she later admitted that she did not declare them because she did not understand that her driving offences amounted to criminal convictions.

She was successful in her GLM application, and began her role on March 2, 2022, with the issue not coming to the college's attention until May 17.

The committee found that Ms Tinsley had acted in a “dishonest” manner, and had demonstrated a “lack of integrity”.

Its report stated that she “behaved in a way that was inappropriate and unacceptable, and her actions fell short of the standard expected of a registered person”.

It added: “Although there was no direct impact on learners, and the convictions occurred outside of the course of her professional duties, this was a serious matter.

“She had evidenced a concerning lack of judgment, and she put herself and the public at risk.

“The committee was concerned that there was limited evidence of remorse or insight, and a lack of significant engagement with the proceedings prior to the hearing, on the part of Ms Tinsley.

“The committee felt that Ms Tinsley's evidence focussed more on the impact of her conduct upon her personally, rather than the potential impact in respect of public protection.”

She was suspended from working in further education in Wales until March 22, 2024.

Ms Tinsley has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.