There will be no action taken against a primary school teacher who taught a class of pupils while under the influence of alcohol. 

The professional conduct panel was held on September 16 into Isabel Lawrence who was a teacher at Tyndale Community School, Oxford.

The panel took place in private after the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) agreed to a request from Ms Lawrence that the allegations be considered without a hearing.

Prior to the hearing, Ms Lawrence admitted unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

Ms Lawrence had drunk alcohol during the morning break time on July 5, 2023 before teaching a class of pupils at the primary school in William Morris Close. 

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During the lesson concerns were raised that Ms Lawrence was suspended on July 7, 2023. She was referred to the TRA on July 24, 2023.

During the proceedings, Ms Lawrence said that she had left the school at the first morning break, went to the shop around the corner and purchased a bottle of wine.

She stated that she drank some of it and returned to her classroom after the break.

Ms Lawrence admitted that after the break she taught a year four class, and was under the influence of alcohol whilst teaching the class.

One anonymous witness had described Ms Lawrence as seeming “spaced out” and having “slurred” speech. Another anonymous witness also described Ms Lawrence as seeming “spaced out”, “swaying from side to side” and like she “didn’t have control of the class”.

Ms Lawrence also admitted having sent an email and WhatsApp message on July 6 to an anonymous witness stating: “at the time I was upset and unfortunately I decided that I needed a drink"

The panel found that there was 'no evidence' that Ms Lawrence’s actions were 'not deliberate'.

At the time of the incident, Ms Lawrence was approaching the end of the first year of her two-year early career teacher training induction.

The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Ms Lawrence involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards and of Keeping Children Safe In Education, and that she fell significantly short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher.

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The panel considered that Ms Lawrence risked the effects of alcohol affecting her judgment and decision making when teaching a class of pupils, thereby 'risking the safety of pupils'.

The panel was also satisfied that Ms Lawrence was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

The panel decided to take no action against Ms Lawrence.

They concluded that Ms Lawrence has the 'potential to make a valuable contribution to the profession' and that there was a 'strong public interest consideration in retaining her in the profession'.