A TEACHER arrested for drink driving and accused of consuming alcohol on the school premises has been hit with an indefinite ban from the profession.

Amy Harrison, 42, has been banned from teaching after a tribunal found she had “fallen significantly short of the standards expected of the profession”.

Ms Harrison was employed by St John’s School, in Billericay, on September 1, 2008 and remained at the school until she quite in 2022.

She began as a full time junior school teacher before becoming PSHE, Citizenship and Religious Studies teacher in the senior school.

In May 2021, concerns were raised by staff that Ms Harrison had been drinking alcohol.

The tribunal heard that on March 2, 2022, Ms Harrison was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following a crash.

Later that month she resigned.

A teacher tribunal report, published on Friday, stated Ms Harrison was accused of “consuming alcohol on the school premises” and “smelled of alcohol and / or was under the influence of alcohol while working”.

The report included evidence from a witnesses who stated that members of staff raised concerns Ms Harrison had been drinking in school or prior to teaching.

The report stated: “Ms Harrison was slurring her words, that her eyes ‘looked as if she had been drinking’ and that she could smell alcohol on Ms Harrison.”

During the same month, following concerns from staff, that Ms Harrison failed to arrive for lessons on March 3.

According to the report, the school was contacted on March 3 by the Local Authority Designated Officer - responsible for managing allegations against adults who work with children - to confirm that Ms Harrison had been in a car accident at 4.30pm on March 2.

According to the report Ms Harrison was arrested for drink driving.

The tribunal heard that Ms Harrison had shown limited evidence of insight and remorse into her actions.

However, it noted that Ms Harrison has sought support to help her tackle her issues with alcohol and that this appears to have resulted in a period of abstinence.

In conclusion, the tribunal found that “in the interest of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils” MS Harrison was banned indefinitely from the teaching profession.