A primary school teacher from the Midlands has been handed an indefinite prohibition order after a professional conduct panel found he consumed alcohol during school lessons and was under the influence while teaching young pupils.
Teacher Found Drinking During School Hours
Steven Ward, 41, who worked at Southwark Primary School in Basford, Nottingham, has been banned from teaching indefinitely following a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing. The panel determined that Ward demonstrated unacceptable professional conduct that put pupils at risk and could seriously undermine public confidence in the teaching profession.
Multiple Incidents of Alcohol Consumption
The TRA panel heard detailed evidence about three separate incidents in November 2023 where Ward was observed drinking alcohol during school hours:
- On November 9, 2023, witnesses in his classroom saw Ward drinking from a blue Brewdog Punk IPA looking can that he kept hidden in his bag. Witnesses reported he consumed a mint after each sip apparently to mask the smell.
- The following day, November 10, another witness observed Ward taking a beer can from his bag during an afternoon class. He reportedly moved the can from his bag to his desk, concealing it behind a mug, and turned away from pupils each time he drank.
- On November 13, a colleague reported a strong smell of alcohol when entering a meeting room with Ward, describing it as immediately noticeable in a large two-person office.
Lack of Insight and Remorse
The panel noted that Ward, who began working at the school as a trainee in 2014, denied all allegations against him when referred to the TRA in July 2024. During the hearing, he showed what the panel described as a significant lack of insight and remorse for his actions.
This absence of contrition led the panel to conclude there was a genuine risk of repetition of such behaviour, which could potentially endanger pupils in his care. The report emphasised that actions of this nature must be treated with the utmost seriousness to maintain public trust in the teaching profession.
Indefinite Prohibition Order Issued
The Teaching Regulation Agency panel issued the indefinite prohibition order on January 16, 2026. According to the terms of the ban, Ward cannot apply for a review of the order until at least January 22, 2029, meaning he will be excluded from the teaching profession for a minimum of three years.
The case highlights the strict professional standards expected of educators and the serious consequences when those standards are breached, particularly when pupil safety and welfare are potentially compromised.
