A supply teacher has been banned from the classroom after being caught swigging vodka at two schools.
Robert Morris, 51, was caught “unsteady on his feet” before colleagues found a near-empty bottle of vodka and a water bottle containing the spirit on him.
A professional standards panel said he concealed his drinking by keeping mouthwash, toothbrush and caffeine drinks in his classroom.
Morris was caught a day after he stopped working as a supply teacher for Simply Education based in Bedford, Beds., last October.
The Teaching Regulation Agency gave him a life-long ban from the classroom after he admitted all allegations against him.
It said in a statement: “Mr Morris was employed by the Agency as a supply teacher from 17 October 2015 to 2 October 2017.
“On 5 January 2017 Mr Morris was asked to leave School A as it was
suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.
“A toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and caffeine drinks were also found in Mr Morris’ classroom.
“Mr Morris was subsequently advised by the Agency that he should avoid excessive alcohol consumption prior to working for the Agency.”
Morris was told to leave another school premises after he was caught drunk nine months later, the panel heard.
The statement of the misconduct hearings which he did not attend said: “On 3 October 2017 Mr Morris attended for work at School B and was asked to leave the school premises as it was believed Mr Morris was under the influence of alcohol.
“Mouthwash was also found in Mr Morris’ classroom and his water bottle was found to contain vodka.
“Also on this date, a black bag belonging to Mr Morris was found to contain a nearly empty bottle of vodka. Mr Morris stated that he had drunk the night before.”
The panel banned him from teaching at any school, college, children’s home or sixth form college in England after finding he “feel significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.”
It said in a statement: “The panel felt Mr Morris had demonstrated a serious departure from the personal and professional conduct elements of the
Teachers’ Standards, and misconduct seriously affecting the education and/or well-being of pupils.
“The panel did not feel Mr Morris showed sufficient insight into or remorse for his
behaviour as the evidence suggested that he had attempted to make a number of
excuses for his behaviour.
“The findings of misconduct are particularly serious as they include a finding of behaviour that puts pupils’ wellbeing at risk.
“This means that Mr Robert Morris is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and
cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or
children’s home in England.
“He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 2020, 2 years from the date of this order at the earliest.”
Simply Education, which has offices across England, declined to comment.
Asked for a statement, a spokesman said: “We are not supplying any information to third parties.”
