A report by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) revealed that a teacher has been banned from teaching after she was found too drunk to lead a class of primary school children to an assembly.
Ashley Atkin, 38, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct while working at Horn’s Mill Primary School in Helsby, Cheshire.
Incident Details
The report stated that on October 20, 2023, a staff member, Witness C, discovered Atkin sitting in her classroom in the dark. Witness C noticed that Atkin appeared to have been crying and smelled of alcohol.
That morning, during the school’s ‘Big Cheese’ assembly, Atkin, who was responsible for leading her Year One class of five- and six-year-olds, instead walked off to sit away from the class.
A staff member, identified as Witness D, had to step in to assist the children. Witness D described Atkin as looking ‘dazed’ and ‘staggering’.
When it was time to announce the ‘Big Cheese’ award winner, Atkin whispered to a colleague, ‘Who is Big Cheese?’ before the colleague presented the award.
Previous Issues
Months before the incident, Atkin had received an 18-month driving ban for being caught at twice the legal limit.
Investigation and Findings
During a staff room conversation, Witness B confronted Atkin about drinking. Atkin denied drinking that morning but admitted she had consumed a bottle of white wine and another small glass the night before.
Following the October 20 incident, Atkin was escorted home as staff believed she was unfit to continue teaching.
Colleagues later reported that her ‘pungent’ smell of alcohol and perfume lingered in the office.
Despite denying the allegations, a TRA panel found the claims proven, concluding that her behaviour ‘fell significantly short of the standard’ expected of a teacher.
Outcome
Atkin resigned from her role in December 2023. Despite acknowledging that she had the potential to be a good teacher, the panel ruled that Atkins’ actions warranted an indefinite teaching ban in England and Wales.
The ban, imposed by TRA chief executive Marc Cavey on behalf of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, allows for a two-year review period.
Cavey said this timeline was appropriate due to the ‘serious nature of the misconduct’ and concerns about her lack of complete insight and remorse.
Atkin has since expressed that she is ‘absolutely devastated’ by the incident. She admitted she had ‘lost who I was as a person’ but claimed she is now in a ‘much better place’.
