Teacher left pupils unsupervised while vaping in cupboard

A design and technology teacher who left a class of pupils unsupervised while they used workshop tools so he could vape has been allowed to remain in the teaching profession following a misconduct hearing.

Paul Price walked out of his classroom while Year 9 students were carrying out practical work, leaving them with access to equipment including saws, mallets and an electric sanding machine. 

A colleague later discovered him crouching in a nearby storeroom using a vape.

When questioned, Mr Price initially claimed he had gone into the room to collect a card before changing his explanation. He later said he had felt the onset of a panic attack and used his vape to calm himself.

The incident took place in January 2024 at Leasowes High School in Halesowen, West Midlands, where Mr Price had worked as a design and technology teacher since 2018.

During his absence, the classroom remained unattended and the tool cupboard was left unlocked while pupils continued using hand tools and the sanding machine.

Mr Price later acknowledged he understood the dangers of leaving students unsupervised in such an environment, accepting there was a risk of injury from the machinery and that tools could have been misused or handled carelessly, potentially causing serious harm.

Following the incident, concerns were raised about pupil safety. Mr Price was suspended while the school investigated and was dismissed from his role in July 2024. The case was then referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

At the misconduct hearing, Mr Price expressed deep remorse for his actions, telling the panel he regretted the incident.

The panel concluded that his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct. However, it decided that banning him from teaching would be disproportionate, determining that publishing its findings would be a sufficient sanction.

Bev Williams, who chaired the hearing, said parents would not expect children to be left unsupervised in a design and technology classroom where potentially dangerous equipment was being used.

She said the panel found Mr Price had placed his own personal needs ahead of his safeguarding responsibilities by leaving the class and vaping on school premises.

Although no pupil was injured and a technician was nearby, the panel concluded his actions created an unnecessary risk of harm because of the nature of the equipment available to the students.

The panel also found the incident had the potential to damage public confidence in the teaching profession.

Stuart Blomfield, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, agreed that publishing the outcome of the case was enough to reinforce the standards expected of teachers and to satisfy the public interest without imposing a prohibition order.

This article is for general information and interest purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice, nor does it necessarily represent the views of HCB.