Head teacher struck off over alcohol in school

Leanne Grove accepted her conduct had "let down the whole school community"

A former primary school head teacher has been struck off after alcohol was found in unlocked cupboards in her office.

Leanne Grove, 44, admitted at a professional conduct panel hearing that she stored the alcohol at Hazeldene School, Bedford.

Concerns were first raised in March 2023 when a teaching assistant discovered one empty and one unopened can of gin and tonic in her handbag by her desk.

Although she showed remorse for her actions, the Teaching Regulation Agency banned her from the profession.

Ms Grove, who took on the role in January 2020 but resigned in May 2023, admitted her behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.

The hearing was told she stored alcohol on the school premises in rooms used by special educational needs and disabilities (Send) pupils and in unlocked cupboards.

On or around 1 March 2023, she took alcohol to the school, and she attended on a working day when she had drunk alcohol.

The panel heard that her office was occasionally left unlocked and pupils used it, particularly when they were distressed.

Ms Grove showed a distinct lack of judgement, and the panel said that having even empty drinks cans visible to pupils was a matter of concern.

She accepted her conduct risked bringing the profession into disrepute and recognised that she had "let down the whole school community".

Signing off on the ban on behalf of the education secretary, David Oatley said Ms Grove "was an experienced practitioner who would, inevitably, have known that her behaviour was inappropriate and wrong".

He added: "Even if there was no evidence that pupils had sight of, never mind consumed, alcohol, her actions presented obvious risks.

"Ms Grove did not herself take steps to reduce that risk. Rather, her behaviour was discovered. To that extent her behaviour was reckless."

Ms Grove cannot apply to rejoin the profession until 2027. She has 28 days to appeal.