Primary school teacher, 34, banned after she admitted snorting cocaine
A PRIMARY school teacher has been barred from the profession for taking cocaine and arriving at work stinking of alcohol.
Lottie Littlehales, who worked at Temple Meadow Primary School in Cradley Heath, was guilty of conduct that “fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession”, watchdog the Teacher Regulation Agency has ruled.
The 34-year-old has now been slapped with a prohibition order, but can appeal to return to teaching in three years.
The dance and PE teacher attended a party with colleagues on July 26, 2019, and allegedly “procured, possessed and consumed” cocaine during the night.
The TRA’s report, published this week, states: “The panel considered the witness statement of Individual A in which she detailed how she had witnessed Ms Littlehales consuming a class A drug. Individual A stated that when she enquired with Ms Littlehales what the substance was, Ms Littlehales stated it was cocaine.
“The panel also considered the statement of Ms Littlehales, in which she admitted to asking Individual A’s son to take her to procure the class A drug, which she then proceeded to take in front of Individual A.”
When challenged by the school, Littlehales described the incident as a “one off”, but confessed she had an alcohol issue. She attended an occupational health appointment on September 17, 2019. A drugs and alcohol test proved negative, but she later admitted to using cocaine.
On October 7, 2019, Littlehales sent a message to a colleague saying she was “not having a good day”.
When she walked in the staff room, she smelt of alcohol.
“The panel noted that the allegation was consistent with the admission made by Ms Littlehales in her statement to consuming significant amounts of alcohol and the acceptance that it was possible alcohol could be smelt on her,” the report states.
She was suspended while an internal investigation took place.
Littlehales resigned in November of the same year.
TRA decision maker Alan Meyrick noted: “The panel found that Ms Littlehales had not been honest with her employer regarding her drug and alcohol use from the outset, and later admitted to such use. This is a significant departure from the high standards of behaviour of personal and professional conduct expected of a teacher.”
He added: “The panel noted that whilst Ms Littlehales accepted responsibility for her actions, the evidence she presented to the panel lacked insight into her behaviours, particularly awareness of her substance use and the impact that her behaviours could potentially have on others. Whilst some evidence of remorse was shown the panel viewed this was limited.
“The panel was of the view that, applying the standard of the ordinary intelligent citizen, it would not be a proportionate and appropriate response to recommend no prohibition order.”