Teacher caught drinking banned from profession

Mr Small was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute

A former teacher was banned from the profession after being caught drinking while on the job.

Christopher Small, 35, was dismissed from Charnwood College in Loughborough one week after starting in September 2023 following concerns about his behaviour, which was suspected to be linked to his alcohol consumption.

On one occasion, he was seen drinking what was thought to be vodka from a Lucozade bottle, a misconduct hearing found.

A report summing up the conclusion of the hearing also mentioned Mr Small failed to inform his employer that he had been convicted of a drink driving offence.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel considered evidence from two witnesses who said Mr Small presented himself in a way that appeared to them to suggest he was intoxicated during a pastoral meeting with staff on 5 September 2023.

He was spotted taking sips of a clear liquid - instead of the typical orange colour - from a Lucozade bottle, according to a published report of the hearing.

The day after, he was described as behaving in an "erratic and flirtatious" manner, "waving his arms around and dancing".

A witness giving an account of Mr Small's conduct said she was "100% certain" that he had been drinking.

The panel also heard Mr Small had lied to secure his job at the school by saying he had not been convicted of a drink driving offence in 2019.

Mr Small, who did not attend the hearing, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.