A geography teacher who had a cocaine addiction and posted about his drug use on social media has been banned from the profession.
Austin Whiting, who was head of Year 13 at Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne, also had an inappropriate conversation with a vulnerable pupil, a misconduct panel found.
Mr Whiting joined the school in Avenue of Remembrance back in 2004 but handed in his resignation on March 8 last year, saying he wanted to see out the academic year before leaving.
However, a hearing in front of the Teaching Regulation Authority heard that, two days later, while working his notice period, he had an inappropriate conversation with a pupil.
Noticing the youngster was upset, he had a private chat with them where he disclosed personal information.
Two days after this, he sent an email to peers over the weekend, admitting his cocaine addiction and explaining he was on the road to recovery.
Following a meeting the week after, he submitted a new letter of resignation, at which point concerns were raised about posts on his Snapchat that related to his drug use.
The posts, which had unintentionally been seen by some current students, included how he planned to write a book named ‘The Man Who Sniffed a House Up His Nose’, the panel heard.
The 46-year-old admitted having an inappropriate conversation, which had been redacted from the report, with a pupil, and that he had used cocaine between March and May last year.
He did, however, deny speaking to the youngster inappropriately knowing she was vulnerable, but the panel found this allegation proved.
He also denied allegations he had used cocaine on the school site or had it in his car. The panel said there was not enough evidence for this to be proved.
A report detailed how Mr Whiting’s posts on Snapchat “weren’t encouraging drug use”, but “they still had the potential to bring the school into disrepute given the contents and that this was particularly so in a small community where people were known to one another”.
It continued: “The use of cocaine, a Class A drug, by a teacher amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.
“The panel noted that while this took place outside the education setting given its findings, Mr Whiting had acted in a way that fell far short of what was expected by teachers in the circumstances, who were to be considered as role models.”
In making their decision on whether to ban Mr Whiting or not, the panel noted he was an experienced teacher who for many years was well respected by his colleagues.
It heard evidence from staff members which confirmed that for 17 and a half years he had been a good teacher who had built a good rapport with students to such an extent that newly-qualified teachers would be sent to observe his classes.
Mitigating factors for the case were his unblemished record, evidence of a good teacher well-regarded by students and staff, and his genuine remorse for his actions.
In relation to his use of illegal drugs and posts on social media, Mr Whiting fully recognised that as a teacher he was a role model and that his conduct in this regard was unacceptable.
The panel concluded: “As a result of the above the panel was of the view that there remained a real risk of repetition and therefore decided that a prohibition was both proportionate and appropriate.
“The panel noted that Mr Whiting had shown a high degree of insight and had clearly reflected on events.
“He had also put in place some measures to ensure that he had a support network in place to prevent a repetition of his conduct.
“The panel noted that Mr Whiting had put in place support involving friends and a new GP.”
However, the panel was of the view that while he had these support networks in place they appeared to be underdeveloped and “it could not be assured that were Mr Whiting to face stressful events in the future that he would not repeat his conduct”.
The ban can be reviewed after a two-year time period.
Borden Grammar School was approached for comment.
