English teacher at £37,000-a-year private school is banned after admitting he smoked crystal meth ‘on the weekends’
A primary English teacher at London’s Dwight School has been prohibited from teaching after admitting to using crystal meth at weekends. A professional conduct panel found that his repeated drug use raised serious concerns about his wellbeing, professional functioning and ability to provide a safe environment for pupils, despite no evidence that any child was harmed.
Charles Richard Miles, 64, had worked at the private school for about 40 years and said his drug use was private and controlled. Police and social workers identified evidence of use after officers attended his Hackney flat in November 2024, and the school later reported him to the Teaching Regulation Agency; regulators said he showed insufficient insight or remorse and no evidence of seeking help. He has retired, but may apply for a review of the ban after five years.
- Veteran teacher banned after admitting weekend crystal meth use.
- Panel found his fitness to teach seriously compromised.
- No evidence pupils were harmed.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the ban would argue that a teacher’s duty of care requires especially high standards where children are concerned. Repeated use of crystal meth is a serious safeguarding concern because of its potential effects on judgement, health and reliability, and regulators can reasonably act before harm occurs. They would also stress that the absence of treatment or clear acknowledgement of risk made reassurance difficult.
The case against
Opponents would argue that professional discipline should distinguish clearly between private conduct and proven impairment at work. There was no reported harm to pupils or evidence that he used drugs at school, and a long teaching career may suggest that a more proportionate response could have included support, monitoring and rehabilitation. They would emphasise fairness, privacy and the possibility that a permanent-seeming sanction can be excessive where someone has retired and says their use was controlled.