Ella Griffith given out by Facebook…went on holiday with lover

A teaching assistant identified as Ella Griffith is alleged to have taken permission from her boss to be off just days after schools returned in September last year due to a situation which “appeared to be critical” – but really it was to go on a trip, according to the heard hearing.

Facebook photographs reveal she went to Rome with her lover after faking she needed time off for a serious issue.

According to Dailystar, the teaching assistant lied about needing time off so she could go on a romantic getaway but was exposed by colleagues who saw her holiday snaps, a misconduct panel has heard.

Ella Griffith, 25, is accused of faking “compassionate leave” from her school in Wales, so she could go to Rome with her boyfriend.

The hearing heard that the assistant had told her boss she had a “serious personal matter at home” – but was then spotted visiting tourist sights instead of attending work.

The panel was also told how the 25-year-old had pleaded with her headteacher to give her two and a half days off, which she used to visit the Colosseum, Vatican City and the Forum with her partner.

Miss Griffith was employed as a learning support assistant working 30-hour weeks at Ysgol Cybi school in Holyhead, Anglesey.

Her headteacher Rhian Grieve said: “She spoke with me on September 17, 2020, and asked to leave early the following day and return on September 23.

Emma and her boyfriend were caught after she posted the pictures on Facebook

Ms Grieve said she was alerted by other staff members that Miss Griffith’s boyfriend posted pictures of them posing in front of a Roman fountain.

Other pictures included the couple drinking in an ice bar, riding on e-scooters through the city and various sightseeing snaps.

Emma requested two-and-a-half days of work

She said that when Miss Griffith was confronted about her absence upon returning she initially lied saying she had flown to Italy over the weekend, the Education Workforce Council heard.

Ms Grieve said Miss Griffith was asked to provide her airline tickets as proof but then later “confessed she’d lied at the length of time away”.

The panel heard she then failed to turn up to the school for the following two days – texting bosses to say she wouldn’t be in but not phoning.

The teacher was caught by her colleagues from Ysgol Cybi school in Holyhead, Anglesey

Miss Griffith, who is not at the hearing and has since left the school, is accused of five misconduct allegations relating to her time away and the subsequent days after.

She has not entered any pleas to the allegations and is not present.