Teacher banned from classroom after turning up to school open evening drunk
A teacher has been banned from class after attending a school open evening under the influence of alcohol, as well as arriving to class “crawling” and “dazed”.
Julia Leith, 60, was described as “unstable, irrational, emotional and confused” by witnesses at Judgemeadow Community College in Leicester at the time of the incident in September 2017.
At 6.30pm, a member of staff reported concerns that Ms Leith was “confused and slurring her speech”; Another staff member noted he realized he didn’t know “why or who” they were and showed visible signs of drinking.
It was determined that he would not be able to attend the open evening, which was full of students and parents, given that he was “finding it very difficult to speak”.
Miss Leith was only able to give her own mobile phone number as a contact number when trying to arrange transport and was “unable to tell” where her bag was before being taken home through the back of the university to avoid the clear evening.
In her witness statement, Ms Leith gave conflicting evidence, stating that she was “anxious” about her observation lesson that day and had “a few sips” of gin and tonic at home before the open evening.
However, in his oral evidence he stated at the time that he was a “complementary” and would “never drink alcohol at school”.
A panel for the Teaching Regulation Agency concluded: “Ms Leith’s behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional because she had consumed alcohol on university premises. The professional judgment of Ms Leith’s colleagues who were present at the time concluded that she should not have been at the university and should have been kept away from students and parents, which necessitated her removal from the premises.”
For the second time in December 2018, while working as a supply teacher at the Robert Smyth Academy in Market Harborough, Ms Leith was also found to have been under the influence of alcohol.
At 1.30pm a member of staff was notified that Ms Leith appeared to be drunk and was seen swaying from side to side as she walked down the corridor.
Ms Leith appeared “emotional” and “agitated” and smelled of alcohol as she hugged one of the witnesses after opening an office door, the TRA report said.
When told that her feet were unstable, she claimed it was due to wearing high heels, even though she was wearing flat shoes.
In her witness statement, Ms Leith claimed the smell of alcohol came from the mouthwash she used at work, but admitted drinking wine to “problematic levels” in the evenings.
The TRA found: “Although there was no evidence that Ms. Leith’s behavior caused harm to students, the panel was aware of the potential harm that might have occurred if Ms. Leith’s colleagues had not intervened and sent her home. “The panel considered that a teacher under the influence of alcohol while on school property was a significant safety concern.
“The panel therefore finds that the high risk of recurrence in Ms Leith’s case, together with the potential risk of harm, were aggravating factors.”
He is now banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, youth hostel or children’s home. An application cannot be made for two years to revoke the decision.
