Teacher who appeared drunk and 'staggering' banned

A teacher who turned up to work looking "dazed" and "staggering" after drinking has been banned from teaching indefinitely.

Ashley Atkin was found to be smelling of alcohol at Horn's Mill Primary School in Frodsham, Cheshire, on 20 October 2023, a Teaching Regulation Agency panel found.

The 38-year-old, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, denied allegations of misconduct but did admit to drinking more than a bottle of wine the previous evening.

The panel found Ms Atkin guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and prohibited her from the profession for a period of two years before the decision can be reviewed.

The panel heard from witnesses who had concerns about Ms Atkin, who had only started at the school the previous month, before the school's assembly.

Witness C said staff had found her sitting in the dark in her classroom and she had not planned the day for her class.

The witness added she could smell alcohol on her breath.

They also said when Ms Atkin stood to take pupils to the assembly "she seemed to have trouble with her dress round her feet and was unsteady".

They told the panel Ms Atkin led the class in but then walked off to sit down on a chair away from her class and another member of staff, Witness D, had to assist with sitting the children down.

Witness D added Ms Atkin's "looked dazed and was staggering".

The panel also heard how, during the assembly, Ms Atkin was expected to speak and announce who her class's "big cheese" award winner was.

The panel heard Ms Atkin had asked a witness "who is big cheese?" before appearing unsteady on her feet, passing her a certificate and saying "you do it".

The teacher's eyes were described as "glazed" and she was slow to answer questions.

Witness A also concluded Ms Atkin should be escorted home as she was not in a position to continue with her role that day.

Ms Atkin, who resigned in December 2023, said during her disciplinary investigation interview she believed she was fit to teach.

However, the panel said it was satisfied Ms Atkin's conduct fell significantly short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher and for safeguarding reasons could not have been left in charge of her class that day.

The panel found she was seen to be staggering in the school, her eyes were glazed and she appeared drunk, leaving her unprepared to start the school day and unable to lead her class in the assembly.

Horn's Mill Primary School declined to comment on the outcome.

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