A teacher has been banned from the classroom for at least two years after getting drunk at the Year 11 prom and “touching pupils in a manner that crossed boundaries”.

Chris Naylor, 39, “hugged and danced closely with pupils”, later admitting that he had “let his guard down” after drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.

Described in one character reference as an “outstanding head of year”, Mr Naylor also admitted holding pupils’ arms and wrists, as well as kissing them on the forehead and cheeks, at the prom of Congleton High School, in Cheshire, last year.

A panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) learned that during an investigation into his conduct he threatened to release photographs on social media of other staff members drinking alcohol at the prom, which he suggested would tarnish the school’s reputation. That was unless the school agreed to the terms of his offer to leave its employment, which was a settlement of nine months’ salary. The school rejected this offer and Mr Naylor resigned soon after. 

Drunk teacher ‘kissed pupils’

In its report, the TRA states: “The ‘threat’ he made to the school, whilst unacceptable, was also one made in desperation due to having to support his family.

“Mr Naylor was clearly a teacher who still had a great deal to offer to pupils and the profession, and the panel was encouraged by that.”

The panel also noted that Mr Naylor had expressed remorse about his behaviour and that he had “a previously good history and that the incident was out of character”.

Character references described him as a “passionate teacher” and “outstanding head of year,” who had devoted hundreds of hours of extracurricular work after school, at lunchtimes and in holidays.

The TRA report also noted that he suffered from a medical condition and that he had used alcohol to calm his nerves.

The panel said it was “encouraged” that Mr Naylor said he was undertaking counselling, although, it added, there was no evidence to substantiate this.

The report states: “He accepted drinking alcohol during the setting-up of the prom and that, having not eaten a proper meal for some time, the alcohol had had a disproportionate effect on him.

“Before and during the event, he was witnessed drinking alcohol, dancing inappropriately behind a pupil, kissing pupils on the cheek, placing his hands on the waists of pupils and hugging others.”

It adds: “In the light of the panel’s findings against Mr Naylor, which involved being intoxicated at a school event, at which he was a responsible adult present to ensure the pupils’ safety, and touching pupils in a manner that crossed boundaries, the panel considered that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mr Naylor were not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession.”

Mt Naylor, who admitted all the allegations in a signed statement which meant a hearing didn’t need to take place, may apply for the ban to be lifted in two years.