London Private School Teacher Banned Over Crystal Meth Use

A veteran London private school teacher has been banned from teaching after a professional conduct panel examined his admitted crystal meth use and concerns about his fitness to teach.

London teacher banned from profession after crystal meth admission

A veteran teacher at a leading London private school has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely after a professional conduct panel found that his use of crystal meth had raised serious concerns about his fitness to teach.

Charles Richard Miles, 64, had worked at the Dwight School in London for around four decades. He was employed as an English as an additional language and learning support teacher and had been involved in teaching primary-age pupils.

The case came before the Teaching Regulation Agency after police discovered evidence relating to Miles's drug use at his home in Hackney.

Although the drug use took place away from school and outside working hours, a professional conduct panel concluded that it could not be considered entirely separate from his responsibilities as a teacher.

The decision has resulted in an indefinite prohibition from teaching in England.

Police discovered evidence of drug use at his home

The case began in November 2024 when police attended Miles's Hackney home following a report concerning a problem with water in his flat.

According to the professional conduct decision, officers became aware during their visit that Miles was using crystal meth.

The drug, also known as methamphetamine, is a Class A controlled drug in the UK. The police subsequently passed information about his drug use to his school.

The school then held an informal capability meeting with Miles in January 2025.

During that meeting, Miles reportedly acknowledged using crystal meth on weekends. He described his use as a way to relax and maintained that he was able to control it.

He also disputed the suggestion that he was addicted, describing his drug use as a private matter.

However, the panel later concluded that his statements indicated repeated use rather than an isolated incident.

Concerns were raised about his professional wellbeing

The school reported Miles to the Teaching Regulation Agency because of concerns about his presentation, wellbeing and professional functioning.

The regulatory panel considered whether his conduct had a sufficient connection to his professional responsibilities despite the alleged drug use occurring outside the school environment.

After reviewing the evidence, the panel determined that there was a connection between the drug use and concerns about Miles's ability to perform his duties as a teacher.

The decision stated that the evidence raised issues surrounding his fitness to teach and his ability to safeguard pupils.

Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility for teachers. Schools are expected to ensure that staff are capable of carrying out their duties safely and professionally, particularly when working with children.

The panel therefore considered the conduct serious enough to warrant professional sanctions.

Teacher had planned to retire

The proceedings took place after Miles had apparently indicated that he intended to leave teaching.

In April 2025, he reportedly sent text messages stating that he planned to retire at the end of the school year.

He was subsequently referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency in June 2025.

Despite his intention to retire, the regulatory process continued because professional teaching standards apply to conduct that may affect a person's suitability to work with children.

The panel ultimately found that Miles's conduct fell significantly below the standards expected of members of the teaching profession.

It concluded that the behaviour could have a negative impact on his professional status and that there were sufficient grounds for a prohibition order.

What the teaching ban means

The prohibition means that Miles cannot teach in England.

According to the panel's decision, he is prohibited from teaching in schools, sixth-form colleges and other specified settings involving children and young people.

The prohibition is indefinite, although it is not necessarily permanent.

Miles will be able to apply for the ban to be reviewed after five years.

A review does not automatically mean that a prohibition will be removed. Any future consideration would depend on the relevant regulatory process and the evidence presented at that time.

Why conduct outside school can matter

The case also highlights an important issue for teachers and other professionals: behaviour outside the workplace can sometimes have professional consequences.

Teachers are not subject to professional expectations only while they are standing in front of a classroom. Regulators can consider private conduct where it has a meaningful connection to a person's professional responsibilities, reputation, wellbeing or ability to safeguard pupils.

In this case, the panel specifically considered the fact that Miles's drug use happened away from school. However, it determined that the circumstances could not be viewed in isolation because of the concerns about his functioning at work.

The decision therefore focused not simply on the location or timing of the drug use, but on its potential impact on his role as a teacher.

A long career ends with professional prohibition

Miles had spent approximately 40 years working at the Dwight School, making the outcome particularly significant in the context of his long teaching career.

The school is an international institution in London and forms part of a wider group of schools with campuses in several countries.

The case demonstrates how professional disciplinary proceedings can continue even when an individual is nearing retirement or has already indicated an intention to leave their role.

For regulators, the central question was whether the conduct raised serious concerns about Miles's suitability to remain in the teaching profession.

The panel decided that it did.

The wider issue of drug use and professional responsibility

The case also raises broader questions about substance use, workplace wellbeing and professional responsibility.

Crystal methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that can have serious effects on physical and mental wellbeing. Regular or repeated use can also create risks that extend beyond an individual's private life, particularly when their job involves responsibility for children.

At the same time, allegations and disciplinary findings should be understood in their proper context. A professional prohibition is a regulatory decision concerning fitness to teach, rather than a general statement about every aspect of an individual's character or personal life.

The panel's findings focused on the evidence presented to it and the professional standards applicable to teachers in England.

Conclusion

The indefinite teaching ban imposed on Charles Richard Miles follows a regulatory finding that his admitted crystal meth use was sufficiently connected to concerns about his professional functioning and fitness to teach.

Although the drug use was reported to have taken place outside school and outside working hours, the Teaching Regulation Agency panel concluded that its potential impact on his professional responsibilities could not be ignored.

The decision ends a teaching career that had lasted around four decades, while leaving open the possibility of a review of the prohibition after five years.

The case serves as a reminder that teachers are held to professional standards that can extend beyond the classroom when private conduct has implications for their ability to carry out their duties safely and effectively.

Source

Source: Teaching Regulation Agency, Charles Richard Miles Conduct Panel Outcome, published by the UK government.