Drink-drive teacher ban criticism

Karen Howard pictured at the court hearing last year

A union has criticised a teaching ban imposed on a woman who was caught nearly five times over the drink-drive limit during a lunchtime.

Karen Howard, 44, from Cardiff, was barred from the classroom for a year by a misconduct hearing of the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW).

She had earlier been jailed for two months and handed a driving ban.

NUT Cymru secretary David Evans said he did not condone drink-driving but it was unfair to penalise her again.

Ms Howard was not present at GTCW hearing on Wednesday, which was reminded of the details of her case before magistrates in Cardiff last November.

The disciplinary panel was told she was found to have 168mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35mg.

This behaviour won't be tolerated. She is supposed to set an example to pupils and peers Gareth Jones, chairman of the disciplinary hearing

Presenting officer Alison Love told the panel: "The reading was completely off the scale.

"It's perhaps very fortunate for everybody that there was no serious accident.

"She was clearly putting herself and others at very serious risk."

One witness described the supply music teacher as "all over the road" in the Llandaff area of the city before officers apprehended her on 18 October last year.

In mitigation during her sentencing last year, magistrates heard Ms Howard was admitted to hospital with alcohol-related problems numerous times between November 2006 and February 2007.

As well as her custodial sentence, she was banned from driving for three years by the court.

Reputation

Miss Love told the GTCW panel: "Her CV is impressive. There is no doubt she was a good teacher.

"But the offence took place during school hours and there clearly is a risk to the children if she was attending school on that day.

"There clearly has to be a risk to the reputation of the profession."

Gareth Jones, chairman of the misconduct hearing, said "This behaviour won't be tolerated. She is supposed to set an example to pupils and peers."

However, Mr Evans of NUT Cymru said the teacher has been punished enough.

"Having gone to prison and served a custodial sentence, she may have thought she had paid for her crime and was ready for rehabilitation," said Mr Evans.

"The GTCW have said 'Thanks, but no thanks. We are going to ban you for longer.' We need to look at that very carefully."

He added: "We would question whether that is fair and reasonable.

"It doesn't necessary follow other professions such as lawyers, doctors or accountants would have that same sentence for doing the same offence.

"Why should teachers be doubly punished for that?"

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