March 24th 2025.
Ashley Atkin, a 38-year-old teacher at Horn's Mill Primary School in Helsby, Cheshire, faced a dire consequence after her unacceptable behavior at school. According to a report by the Teaching Regulation Agency, Atkin was banned from teaching in England and Wales due to her inability to control herself while under the influence of alcohol.
The incident occurred on October 20, 2023, when a witness, referred to as "Witness C," entered Atkin's classroom and found her sitting in the dark. It was reported that Atkin had been drinking heavily the night before and was still intoxicated during school hours. This was not the first time Atkin had displayed such behavior, as she had previously been banned from driving for 18 months for driving while intoxicated.
On the day of the incident, a witness saw Atkin "staggering" around and suspected that she had been crying. When the witness asked if she was okay, Atkin responded with a tight hug. The witness later reported smelling alcohol on Atkin's breath.
Meanwhile, the school's weekly "Big Cheese" assembly was taking place, where teachers were expected to lead their class into the hall and sit with their students. However, Atkin, who was in charge of a class of five and six-year-olds, walked off and sat on a chair away from her students. Other witnesses also reported their concerns as Atkin appeared "dazed" and had difficulty communicating.
During the assembly, Atkin was supposed to announce the "Big Cheese" award winner from her class. However, a witness noticed that Atkin seemed confused and whispered, "who is big cheese?" This behavior raised concerns among the staff, with one witness stating that they felt Atkin's class was not safe with her due to her slow reaction time and lack of awareness.
After the assembly, a witness went to check on Atkin and asked her to speak in the staff room. The witness then asked if she had been drinking, to which Atkin denied but later admitted to drinking heavily the night before. It was clear that Atkin was not in a state to continue teaching, and a colleague suggested taking her home.
Atkin's colleagues noticed a strong smell of alcohol and perfume on her, which had to be aired out of the office. Despite her denial of the allegations, the investigation by the Teaching Regulation Agency found them to be true. The panel concluded that Atkin's behavior was unacceptable for a teacher and she resigned from her position in December 2023.
However, the panel also acknowledged that Atkin had the potential to be a good teacher, and her colleagues believed that she could improve with the right support. In February of this year, Atkin expressed her devastation over the incident and claimed to have "lost who I was as a person." She also stated that she is now in a much better place.
After considering all the evidence, the panel recommended that Atkin be banned from teaching indefinitely in England and Wales, with a review after two years. This decision was in line with the recommendations of the TRA panel. Atkin is also not allowed to apply for any teaching positions during this period.
The chief executive of the TRA, Marc Cavey, agreed with the panel's decision, stating that it was necessary to maintain public confidence in the teaching profession. He also mentioned the seriousness of Atkin's misconduct and the lack of remorse shown, which could lead to a repetition of such behavior.
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