### Welsh Teacher Struck Off After Swearing at Pupils and Drinking During ‘Rave’ Lesson
A secondary school teacher from Welshpool has been permanently removed from the teaching register after a disciplinary panel heard she attended work under the influence of alcohol, led a raucous lesson akin to a ‘mini-rave’, and directed foul-mouthed abuse at pupils. The Education Workforce Council (EWC) in Wales concluded that Alice Ashton, who taught Welsh second language and personal and social education (PSE) at Ysgol Bro Caereinion, should be banned from the profession following a series of serious misconduct allegations.
The panel reviewed incidents from January 2024, including one remarkable episode where Ashton was said to have swigged alcohol from a disguised bottle during a class. Multiple pupils gave evidence, with one describing how Ashton encouraged the class to rise and join her in performing the Macarena, all while sipping from a bottle that appeared to contain alcohol. Witnesses recalled the lesson “spiralling out of control” as music blared from her laptop, and the classroom atmosphere descended into chaos, reportedly feeling more like a party than a school session.
Further testimony from students painted a picture of alarming behaviour, with Ashton allegedly calling pupils “little s***s” and repeatedly swearing at the class. A particularly troubling account details her telling one boy to “sit the f*** down”, and at one point exclaiming, “At 29 I don’t need to be dealing with this s***.” An allegation that she made a rude hand gesture at a student was not substantiated, nor was a claim that she prevented two boys from leaving the classroom during the disruptive lesson.
Footage obtained from CCTV was reviewed privately by the EWC. Committee chair, Steve Powell, summarised that Ashton could be seen moving erratically and brandishing a bottle. After she appeared to finish its contents, she threw it away. The aftermath of the lesson prompted pupils and their parents to notify school management, who then retrieved the bottle. Deputy head teacher Edward Baldwin reported that he and a colleague detected the smell and even tasted a residual liquid, confirming their suspicions it was alcohol. Although school policy meant this evidence was not formally used in their internal inquiry, the panel found corroborating accounts compelling.
Compounding the panel’s concerns was the fact that Ashton had previously received a conviction for drink-driving in August 2023—an event for which she correctly self-reported to the regulating body. Moreover, she had already been warned by the school regarding attending work smelling of alcohol. The EWC panel concluded that on the balance of evidence, Ashton had indeed been under the influence while in charge of the class, undermining her position as a trusted professional.
Throughout this disciplinary process, the committee noted Ashton’s lack of engagement. The panel heard that she opposed the allegations in the school’s original investigation but failed to contribute to the EWC’s inquiry or offer any apology for her actions. According to statements, she had moved away from Wales and was no longer working as a teacher.
Ashton’s inappropriate conduct in January 2024 was deemed “unacceptable professional conduct”. Particular allegations found proven included using offensive language towards pupils, telling them to “f*** off” or “suck it”, using derogatory terms such as “divvys”, and responding sarcastically to a pupil’s threat to report her behaviour. She was also found guilty of attending work while intoxicated.
The panel, after considering the totality of the evidence, directed that Ashton’s name be struck from the teaching register indefinitely. She may not apply for re-admittance for at least two years and only then with evidence to satisfy a future hearing of her suitability to return. Unless she chooses—and succeeds—in appealing to the High Court within 28 days, her teaching career in Wales is effectively over.
Ysgol Bro Caereinion, established in 2021 from the merger of two local schools, now faces further upheaval. The bilingual, all-age school currently searches for new leadership after both its headteacher and deputy resigned in May. Powys Council announced the appointment of an acting head teacher while the recruitment process for a permanent replacement continues.
This case has brought to the fore renewed debate around the safeguarding of pupils and the importance of teacher conduct both in and outside of school. In an era where the standards for teachers are under increasing scrutiny, the committee’s firm decision in Ashton’s case stands as a clear statement on the expectations of those entrusted with the care and education of young people in Wales.