A primary school teaching assistant has been permanently barred from the classroom after being caught driving under the influence of drink and drugs just hours after finishing work.
Post-School Bender Leads to Arrest
Jessica Picton, 33, was stopped by police at 4.45pm on December 11, 2023. The stop occurred less than two hours after she had left Clase Primary School in Swansea at her usual finishing time of 3.10pm. Officers discovered she was under the influence of cocaine, alcohol, and cannabis while behind the wheel.
Picton, who worked with pupils with additional educational needs, later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of controlled drugs and alcohol at West Glamorgan Magistrates' Court on June 14, 2024. Her sentence included a curfew, an electronic tag, a 17-month driving ban, and a community order.
Professional Conduct Hearing and 'Reckless Disregard'
The case was subsequently reviewed by the Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales fitness to practise committee. The committee ruled that Picton's actions amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and decided to bar her from teaching.
The committee chair stated that Picton had shown a "reckless disregard" for the EWC's professional code and that her conduct "fell far below" the standards expected. It was noted that Picton did not engage with the proceedings and had shown no insight, remorse, or regret, with a perceived risk that the behaviour could be repeated.
School's Concerns and Lack of Transparency
The hearing heard evidence from Sharon Hope, the headteacher at Clase Primary at the time of the incident. Ms Hope revealed that Picton failed to inform the school of her arrest. The narrow gap between the end of the school day and her police stop raised serious concerns that she may have been under the influence while at work, though no direct evidence was found.
"I asked her if she had anything she wanted to tell me. She replied 'anything in particular?'. I was taken aback," Ms Hope told the committee. When questioned directly about cocaine use, Picton replied "not knowingly". Ms Hope concluded there was a "lack of transparency" from the teaching assistant.
Prior to this incident, Picton had an unblemished record since starting at the school in 2012. She was described as kind to the children, hard-working, and well-liked by colleagues, with no prior concerns about her conduct.
