Teacher's shameful lunch break act in Morrisons car park exposed as colleagues notice odd behaviour
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A science teacher has been banned from teaching after she consumed half a bottle of wine during her lunch break before returning to teach a class. Rhian Williams, a former head of chemistry at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin in Carmarthenshire, Wales drove to Morrisons on May 9, 2023, to pick up flowers for a colleague and ended up buying a bottle of white wine as well, an Education Workforce Council (EWC) fitness to practise hearing was informed.
She drank half the bottle in her car before driving back to school, where she proceeded to teach a small year eight class of pupils with additional learning needs. Colleagues noticed Williams' odd behaviour that afternoon and alerted the assistant head teacher, Rhian Carruthers, who found Williams to be "overly happy" and received an unexpected hug when she asked her to leave the classroom.
Carruthers deemed the embrace out of character. Williams confessed her actions to Carruthers, who then discovered the half-drunk bottle of wine in the car. READ MORE: Six-month-old baby dies after terminal brain tumour mistaken for 'milk allergy' and 'teething'.
Mrs. Carruthers, who has been an assistant head teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin since 2017, spoke at the hearing and shared that she'd worked alongside Williams for two decades, considering her a close friend. She sang praises of Williams as "a wonderful person" and a savvy, well-versed educator who enjoyed strong bonds with fellow staff members, reports Wales Online.
Before the regrettable incident, Williams boasted an impeccable teaching record. Mrs. Carruthers relayed how Williams found adjusting to blended learning during lockdowns tough, resulting in lost confidence and stepping back from being head of chemistry. This led to two stints away from work, the latter lasting half a year, with a return just at the tail-end of March 2023.
