Catherine Stephenson, a former deputy headteacher at Snowflake School in Kensington, has been indefinitely prohibited from teaching after she purchased and consumed half a bottle of white wine during a single morning at work on April 16, 2024.
Incident Details
Stephenson, who served as Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at the independent special school for children with autism aged 5 to 17, messaged a staff WhatsApp group at 8:45 AM to say she was running late. A colleague then spotted her at a local off-license purchasing a bottle of wine.
She brought the alcohol onto school premises, hiding it in her blue backpack. Throughout the morning, staff noticed she was acting out of character, appearing repetitive and smelling of alcohol. She frequently left her shared office to go to the toilet, taking her backpack with her on more than five occasions.
Discovery and Investigation
When a colleague phoned her about the sighting, Stephenson admitted buying the wine but claimed it was for her and her partner to have with dinner. She insisted the bottle would be completely full if checked. However, at 11:52 AM, a staff member searched her bag and found the screw-top white wine stash underneath clothing, more than half empty.
A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel concluded she had consumed half the bottle in roughly three hours and was under the influence of alcohol while on duty. The panel emphasized the significant safeguarding risk due to her senior role and the vulnerable pupils at the school.
Outcome and Ban
Stephenson was suspended on the day of the incident and dismissed by the school in May 2024 after failing to attend a disciplinary hearing. She also failed to attend or engage with the TRA panel's review in June 2026, which found her guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
The Secretary of State ordered an indefinite prohibition from teaching, with the earliest opportunity to apply for a review set for June 2028. The panel acknowledged the incident was a one-time occurrence and noted no evidence of actual harm to pupils or teachers, but highlighted Stephenson's lack of remorse or insight.
