A primary school teacher has been banned from the profession for two years after being drunk in front of a Year 3 class and while being in charge of a vehicle.

Vanessa Summers worked at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Academy, in Staffordshire, as a teacher from 1 September 2008 until 21 October 2019, when she resigned.

On 18 September 2019, she had been teaching a Year 3 class when colleagues observed that “her eyes were glazed, she was swaying, her walk was unsteady and she repeatedly left the classroom”, a Teaching Regulation Agency panel found.

When confronted by an individual at the school, she denied drinking. But an empty bottle of wine was found in her handbag and she later admitted to drinking from the bottle during the school day while on school premises.

About a week later, Ms Summers was picking up a child from another school and was “surrounded by parents” who could see she was drunk and stopped her from getting in her car.  

She was reported to the police and found to be four times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Ms Summers was arrested and charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol and being drunk in charge of a child.

On 28 November 2019, Ms Summers appeared in Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded guilty and was convicted of both offences. Ms Summers was fined and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

The teacher admitted to all the allegations put to her by the TRA panel, including that she consumed alcohol on academy premises during the teaching day and taught and/or was responsible for the teaching of Year 3 pupils while under the influence of alcohol.

The panel found that Ms Summers had a previously good history and had not been subject to any previous disciplinary action.

However, it also noted: “The findings of misconduct were serious and the conduct displayed would be likely to have a negative impact on the individual’s status as a teacher, potentially damaging the public perception.

“In particular, a parent finding out that a child’s teacher had been found to have consumed alcohol while responsible for a class of children would be appalled.”

Ms Summers can apply for the ban to be lifted after two years.

The panel decision said: “A [two-year] review period would provide Mrs Summers with an opportunity to proactively address any underlying issues she may be facing and apply to return to the teaching profession once she had done so.

“The panel considered that a future set-aside panel would want to be satisfied, with supporting evidence, that Ms Summers had sought the support and assistance she needs and that it had been effective”.