A nursery teacher from the Black Country has been permitted to continue her career in education despite being found intoxicated with vodka on school premises during teaching hours. Rebecca Horgan, who worked at Glynne Primary School in Kingswinford, faced a Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel after the serious incident which occurred in January 2024.
Incident Details and Discovery
The misconduct hearing heard that on January 17, 2024, Mrs Horgan returned from her lunch break displaying concerning physical symptoms. Teaching assistants observed her behaving unusually, appearing unsteady on her feet, and ultimately falling onto the floor. Her speech was noticeably slurred and unclear, while her eyes appeared red and glassy.
When a colleague looked into Mrs Horgan's bag to retrieve her water bottle, they discovered a bottle of vodka inside. This discovery was immediately reported to the headteacher, prompting a formal investigation. The teacher subsequently admitted she had been drinking alcohol during school hours.
Consequences and Panel Findings
The professional conduct panel determined that Mrs Horgan's actions constituted "misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession." They confirmed she was "guilty of unacceptable professional conduct" and that her behaviour "may bring the profession into disrepute."
During the hearing, Mrs Horgan admitted purchasing alcohol during her lunch hour and consuming it while conducting planning, preparation, and assessment duties during teaching time. She acknowledged becoming "inebriated while on the school premises during teaching hours."
Mitigating Factors and Decision
Despite the serious nature of the incident, the panel decided against issuing a prohibition order that would have banned Mrs Horgan from teaching. Several mitigating factors influenced this decision:
- The panel accepted the incident occurred "during a period of illness"
- Mrs Horgan had a previously unblemished professional record
- Testimonials described her as an "integral part of the school staff team"
- Senior leaders confirmed she had "consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to safeguarding"
- The panel determined the behaviour was "at the less serious end of the possible spectrum"
Return to Work and Professional Standing
Mrs Horgan returned to work as a teaching assistant in September 2024, with the panel noting she had made a "valuable contribution to the profession." They concluded that publication of the adverse findings alone would serve as sufficient deterrent and meet public interest requirements regarding professional standards.
The panel's report stated: "Given that the nature and severity of the behaviour were at the less serious end of the possible spectrum and, having considered the mitigating factors that were present, the panel determined that a recommendation for a prohibition order would not be appropriate in this case."
This decision follows similar professional conduct cases in the Midlands region, highlighting the complex considerations involved when educators face disciplinary proceedings for serious misconduct allegations.
