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Headmistress Banned After Booze Stash Found in Office
19 Nov
Summary
- Headmistress Leanne Grove was banned indefinitely from teaching.
- An empty G&T can in her handbag led to the discovery of alcohol.
- Her office was used by pupils, raising concerns about child access.
Leanne Grove, 44, has been permanently removed from the teaching register following the discovery of a significant alcohol stash within her office at Hazeldene School. The situation came to light when a teaching assistant noticed empty gin and tonic cans in Grove's handbag, prompting a wider search. This search revealed a collection of opened and unopened alcoholic beverages stored in her office cupboards and containers.
Grove admitted to consuming alcohol on school premises, including before a governors' meeting and after a parents' evening. The panel noted the particular concern that her office, which was sometimes left unlocked, was regularly used by pupils, especially when distressed. This raised the 'not remote' possibility of a child accessing alcohol.
The Teacher Regulation Agency deemed Grove's conduct as unacceptable and of a serious nature, falling significantly short of professional standards. As a result, she has been struck off indefinitely and cannot reapply to the profession until 2027. Grove has resigned from her role and acknowledged she had "let down the whole school community."
