Amanda Rogers, a headteacher at South Stoke Primary School in Wallingford, near Reading, has avoided a classroom ban despite being arrested for driving to work under the influence of cannabis. She was suspended from her role after the arrest, appeared in court, and admitted a drugs offence.
Arrest and court proceedings
Mrs Rogers was arrested on November 22, 2024, on suspicion of driving while under the influence of cannabis. After her suspension, she appeared before Reading Magistrates' Court in January, where she pleaded guilty. The court sentenced her to a fine of £269 and imposed a one-year driving ban.
A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) report noted that had she not been arrested, she would have had "interactions with pupils" while high on cannabis. However, the TRA panel decided not to ban her from future teaching, stating that she had "learned important lessons."
TRA panel findings
The report praised Ms Rogers' conduct during the hearing, stating: "Ms Rogers gave evidence in an open and straightforward way. She took full responsibility for her actions and did not seek to downplay their seriousness..."
It continued: "There was clear of evidence of regret, remorse and insight. Ms Rogers fully understood that her actions were wrong and accepted full responsibility for them. It was clear she had learned from these events, which had clearly had a severe impact upon her and, in Ms Rogers' words, caused a very sad end to a career she had loved for nearly 30 years."
Career and future prospects
Mrs Rogers had served as headteacher at South Stoke Primary School since 2004. The TRA misconduct hearing, held last month, considered her "unblemished record" as a teacher and the "particularly pressured period" she experienced at school before the offence.
The panel noted that Mrs Rogers is not currently teaching but could "make a positive contribution" if she chose to return to the profession in the future.
