Swimming Teacher Banned After Drinking Wine Before Class

Liam Knight, 30, was found guilty of professional misconduct after being intoxicated during a swimming lesson with young pupils.

Liam Knight, a swimming teacher at Drayton Junior School in Norfolk, was banned from teaching after drinking wine before a lesson in October 2023.
A Teaching Regulation Agency panel found Knight unsteady on his feet, slurring his words, and unable to focus while in the pool with students.
Knight admitted to drinking rosé wine, likely directly from the bottle, during a lunch break and had also taken medication that caused drowsiness, which he failed to disclose to his managers.
The panel determined that Knight’s actions constituted unacceptable professional conduct, including failing to take a headcount or register during the lesson and being unfit to ensure pupil safety.
Knight, who now works as an ambulance care assistant, is banned from teaching for two years, after which he may apply for a review of his eligibility.