A teacher at a north London private school has been dismissed after admitting to using crystal meth to "relax", a tribunal has heard. Primary teacher Charles Miles, 64, was employed at Dwight School in Barnet, north London, when he contacted police to report "water bulging" at his Hackney home.
Police visit and drug use findings
Officers visited his property in November 2024 and social workers subsequently noted it was "clear" that the English and learning support teacher "smokes crystal meth", a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel was told. The report stated Mr Miles was "impacted by ongoing class A drug use" and consumed crystal meth "on weekends", though noted there was no indication of any harm to children.
Teacher's response and misconduct ruling
Mr Miles attended a meeting with the school in January 2025, the tribunal heard, with notes from the session reviewed by the panel recording the teacher stating: "They're concerned about that crystal meth use but as I am trying to explain - I am not addicted to it." The 64-year-old, who had taught at the school for nearly 40 years, insisted he used crystal meth to "relax", adding that his consumption was "pretty controlled".
Mr Miles admitted to having used the drug while employed as a teacher, acknowledging that this constituted "unacceptable professional conduct", with the panel concluding that he had been guilty of serious misconduct. The report states: "In the light of the panel's findings against Mr Miles, which involved unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, there was a strong public interest consideration in respect of the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils; the maintenance of public confidence in the profession; and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct, given the serious findings of use of a class A drug."
Indefinite ban and review eligibility
Despite Mr Miles having retired at the close of the school year in summer 2025, a written ruling published on Thursday confirmed that the TRA panel had determined he should face an indefinite ban from the classroom. The tribunal concluded that Mr Miles had demonstrated "limited insight and/or remorse" regarding his drug use, having determined that "Mr Miles' view had been that his drug use was a private matter, separate from his professional engagement as a teacher".
He is eligible to apply for a review of the ban in five years' time.
