A teaching assistant from a Swansea primary school has been permanently barred from the profession after embarking on a drink and drugs binge immediately following the end of the school day.
Rapid Descent from Classroom to Police Stop
Jessica Picton, 33, left her role at Clase Primary School in Swansea at the usual time of 3:10pm on December 11, 2023. Less than two hours later, at 4:45pm, she was stopped by police. Officers discovered she was driving under the influence of a dangerous cocktail of substances: cocaine, alcohol, and cannabis.
Picton, who worked with pupils who have 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. The court sentenced her to a curfew with an electronic tag, a 17-month driving ban, and a community order.
"Reckless Disregard" Leads to Teaching Ban
The case was subsequently reviewed by the Education Workforce Council Wales (EWC) fitness to practise committee. The committee concluded that Picton's actions constituted unacceptable professional conduct and have now barred her from teaching indefinitely.
The committee chair stated that Picton had shown a "reckless disregard" for the professional code. They found her conduct "fell far below" the standards expected of teaching staff. Crucially, the panel noted that Picton did not engage with their proceedings and showed no insight, remorse, or regret for her actions, raising concerns the behaviour could be repeated.
School's Shock and Concerns Over Transparency
Sharon Hope, the headteacher at Clase Primary at the time of the incident, gave evidence to the committee. She revealed that Picton had failed to inform the school of her arrest. This led to serious concerns that she may have been under the influence of drugs while at work, given the very short time between the end of the school day and her arrest.
"There was no evidence she was intoxicated in work but there was such a small gap that it was possible she had been in work under the influence of drugs," Ms Hope said. She described being "taken aback" when, upon questioning, Picton responded evasively. When asked directly if she had taken cocaine, Picton replied, "not knowingly." Ms Hope concluded there was a "lack of transparency" from the teaching assistant.
The hearing was told that prior to this incident, Picton had an unblemished record since starting at the school in 2012. She was described as kind to the children, hardworking, and well-liked by colleagues, with no prior concerns about her conduct.
