James 'Jamie' Richards, once a respected figure at Cadle Primary School in Swansea, has been struck off the teaching register for at least 15 years after a series of deeply troubling incidents came to light. The former headteacher, who led the school from 2011 to 2021, was found by a professional standards panel to have repeatedly exposed himself to female staff members both on school premises and during a school trip, leaving a trail of trauma and disbelief among his colleagues.
The panel’s decision, delivered on November 28, 2025, followed a four-day hearing that painted a harrowing picture of Richards’ conduct. According to Metro, the allegations against Richards spanned a decade and included multiple instances of him exposing his genitals to staff, showing explicit images and videos of himself, and making lewd comments. On one school trip, Richards exposed himself to a teacher, brazenly telling her, “Inspect this, miss.” In another incident, a staff member was summoned to his office only to find him standing beside his desk with his trousers down and his erect penis in full view.
The testimonies of five women, all of whom worked with Richards, were strikingly consistent. They described feeling “shocked,” “numb,” and “frightened” by his actions. One recalled how Richards, after exposing himself, had attempted to justify his behavior by saying, “I love my wife and children. I can’t help myself.” Another staff member recounted being shown images of Richards’ penis on his phone during what was supposed to be a work meeting. In a separate instance, he shared a video of himself “caressing” himself, leaving the recipient bewildered and distressed.
These women, according to BBC and WalesOnline, were so shaken by Richards’ actions that they felt unable to report him at the time, fearing they would not be believed. Their apprehension was not unfounded; one woman told the panel she felt “silenced” after South Wales Police, alerted to the incidents, concluded in late 2021 that there was no criminal case to answer. “I felt let down by the school and the police, and was very upset Richards had been able to resign from his post during an internal investigation after he was suspended in 2021,” she said, according to BBC.
Richards’ behavior was described repeatedly during the hearing as “predatory,” “sexualised,” “harassing,” and “abusive.” The panel’s chair, Sue Davies, did not mince words in her assessment: “Mr Richards was seeking sexual gratification by his actions and enjoyed the reaction of colleagues. Mr Richards was dishonest and self-serving. He had a history and pattern of behaviour. This was deeply entrenched behaviour which represents a risk to young women and colleagues.”
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Richards chose not to participate in the disciplinary process. He neither attended the Education Workforce Council (EWC) hearing, the professional regulator for education staff in Wales, nor was he represented. All allegations were taken as denied by the panel, but the evidence presented by the victims was found to be clear and credible.
During the internal investigation in 2021, Richards refused to be interviewed, citing ill health that he claimed affected his cognitive and physical abilities. However, a Swansea Council fraud team, suspicious of his claims, followed him and captured footage of Richards driving and playing golf with friends while on sick leave. This evidence, shown during the hearing, contradicted his assertions of incapacity and further undermined his credibility.
One particularly disturbing aspect of the case was Richards’ apparent targeting of staff members whom he suspected might be less likely to report his behavior. The women described him as “jovial” and “approachable,” a well-liked figure in the school community who had been supportive to many. This reputation, paradoxically, made it harder for his victims to come forward. As one woman put it, “He was a family man with two children and a wife and came across as a devoted family man and approachable head, that’s how he portrayed himself.”
Richards’ misconduct extended to the misuse of school property as well. During the internal investigation, it emerged that he had failed to return a laptop provided by the school, which he had used to show naked images of his genitals. The panel noted this as an aggravating factor, highlighting not only his abuse of trust but also his disregard for the rules and property of the institution he led.
The consequences for Richards are severe. He has been banned from working in any maintained or non-maintained school in Wales for at least 15 years and cannot apply for reinstatement to the Education Workforce Council register until at least November 2040. He does, however, have the right to appeal the decision to the High Court within 28 days from November 28, 2025. As of now, there is no information on whether Richards intends to pursue an appeal or seek employment in another capacity.
Throughout this ordeal, the lack of criminal charges has been a source of frustration for the victims. Despite the overwhelming evidence and the professional consequences for Richards, South Wales Police concluded in late 2021 that there was no criminal case to answer. This decision has left some victims feeling that true justice has not been served, even as Richards faces a lengthy professional ban.
The case has sparked broader conversations about the safety of women in the workplace, particularly in educational settings where trust and professionalism are paramount. The panel’s decision to strike Richards off the teaching register sends a clear message about the seriousness with which such misconduct will be treated. It also underscores the importance of supporting victims who come forward, often at great personal risk, to expose abuse by those in positions of authority.
As the dust settles on this deeply unsettling chapter at Cadle Primary School, the hope among many in the Swansea community is that the lessons learned will lead to stronger safeguards, greater accountability, and a culture in which victims are heard and believed. For the five women who bravely testified, the panel’s ruling is a measure of vindication—though, as several have made clear, the scars left by Richards’ actions will not easily fade.
Richards’ removal from the teaching profession stands as a stark warning to those who would abuse their positions of trust. For Cadle Primary and the wider Welsh education sector, it is a call to vigilance and a reminder that the well-being of staff and students must always come first.
