Mr Carlos Lopez Vazquez

The Secretary of State does not make these decisions themselves. They are made by a senior official on the recommendation of an independent panel.

Teacher's name: Mr Carlos Lopez Vazquez

Location teacher worked: Winchester, South East England

Date of professional conduct panel: 9 September 2024

Outcome type: No order made

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with The Teacher's’ Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012, a professional conduct panel was convened to consider the case of Mr Carlos Lopez Vazquez, Winchester, South East England.

Teacher misconduct

Ground Floor, South

Cheylesmore House

5 Quinton RoadCoventryCV1 2WT

Email TRA.Casework@education.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7593 5393

Information about regulating the teaching profession and the process for dealing with serious teacher misconduct.

Mr Carlos Lopez Vazquez: professional conduct panel hearing outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education September 2024 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 4 Summary of evidence 4 Documents 4 Decision and reasons 5 Findings of fact 5 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 8 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 10 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Mr Carlos Lopez Vazquez TRA reference: 20398 Date of determination: 9 September 2024 Employer: Kings School Winchester Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened at Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry, on 9 September 2024, CV1 2WT, to consider the case of Mr Lopez Vazquez. The panel members were Mrs Gemma Hutchinson ( teacher panellist – in the chair), M rs Shabana Robertson (lay panellist) and Mr Nigel Shock (lay panellist). The presenting officer for the TRA was Ms Louisa Atkin (counsel). Mr Lopez Vazquez was represented by Mr Nick Kennan (counsel). The legal adviser to the panel was Mr Tom Walker of Blake Morgan solicitors. 4 Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of hearing dated 11 August 2023. It was alleged that: Mr Lopez Vazquez was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/ or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute in that, while employed as a teacher at Kings’ School, Romsey Rd, Winchester SO22 5PN: 1. On or around 6 November 2021, you were found to be drunk in charge of a child under the age of 7 and accepted a police caution in respect of this conduct for an offence under section 2 of the Licensing Act 1902. Mr Lopez Vazquez has been convicted of a relevant criminal offence in that: 2. On or around 25 November 2021, you were convicted of driving a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit, contrary to section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Mr Lopez Vazquez admitted the allegations. Preliminary applications There was an application to admit two late character references. The panel heard that there was no objection from the TRA to the admission of these documents and decided that it was fair to admit these documents. There was an application by the teacher to hear those parts of the evidence which could identify children, or which addressed health, to be heard in private. The panel considered that there was no public interest in these issues to be dealt with in public session and decided to hold those parts of the hearing in private. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the meeting, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: Section 1: Chronology and list of key people – pages 3 to 6 Section 2: Notice of referral, response and Notice of meeting – pages 7 to 28 Section 3: Teaching Regulation Agency documents - pages 29 to 77 Section 4: Teacher documents – pages 78 to 100 5 As noted above, there were two additional character references. T he panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows. The panel proceeded to consider the case carefully, having read all of the documents, and reached a decision. It accepted the legal advice provided. Mr Lopez Vazquez is employed as Head of Faculty at King’s School Winchester (“the School”). He commenced work at the School in June 2018. On 6 November 2021, Mr Lopez Vazquez was arrested and charged with driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol. On 7 November 2021, Mr Lopez Vazquez received a caution for being drunk in charge of a child in connection with the events on the previous day. Mr Lopez Vazquez was subsequently convicted of the offence of driving with excess alcohol following a guilty plea and received a disqualification of 29 months. Mr Lopez Vazquez notified the School that he had been charged with an offence, and following an internal investigation he was subsequently referred to the TRA. Findings of fact The findings of fact are as follows: The panel found the following allegation against you proved, for these reasons: You are guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/ or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute in that, while employed as a teacher at Kings’ School, Romsey Rd, Winchester SO22 5PN: 1. On or around 6 November 2021, you were found to be drunk in charge of a child under the age of 7 and accepted a police caution in respect of this conduct for an offence under section 2 of the Licensing Act 1902. You have been convicted of a relevant criminal offence in that 2. On or around 25 November 2021, you were convicted of driving a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit, contrary to section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Mr Lopez Vazquez admitted the facts of the allegations. 6 The panel was presented with a Caution document and certificate of conviction from Southampton Magistrates’ Court ("the Certificate"). The panel accepted the Certificate as conclusive proof of the commission of the offence. The panel found the facts of allegations 1 and 2 proved. Findings as to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute and relevant conviction Having found allegation 1 proved the panel went on to consider whether the facts of those proved allegations amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. In doing so, the panel had regard to the document Teacher Misconduct: The Prohibition of Teachers, which is referred to as “the Advice”. The panel regarded allegation 1 to be misconduct of a serious nature. Mr Lopez Vazquez was [REDACTED]. Mr Lopez Vazquez has sought help with his [REDACTED] at that time. Mr Lopez Vazquez consumed significant amounts of alcohol and then chose to dr ive in circumstances where it should have been obvious to him that doing so was both illegal and dangerous. Mr Lopez Vazquez chose to drive in circumstances where there was an obvious risk to a child in respect of whom he was in charge on 6 November 2021. Indeed, it is notable that a member of the public reported Mr Lopez Vazquez to the police as they were concerned for his safety. It follows inevitably that there was a risk to members of the public as well as himself. The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Lopez Vazquez, in relation to the facts found proved, involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards. The panel considered that, by reference to Part 2, Mr Lopez Vazquez was in breach of the following standards: • Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by o having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions • Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities. The panel did take into account the evidence before it of mitigating circumstances on the part of Mr Lopez Vazquez, including his acceptance of the Caution but was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Lopez Vazquez, was misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession, and thus amounted to unacceptable professional conduct. 7 The actions of Mr Lopez Vazquez involved a departure from the relevant standards and statutory frameworks. The panel took into account the way the teaching profession is viewed by others and considered the influence that teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community. The panel also took account of the uniquely influential role that teachers c an hold in pupils’ lives and the fact that pupils must be able to view teachers as role models in the way that they behave. The panel took the view that the actions of Mr Lopez Vazquez, for the reasons set out above, would negatively impact the public perception of teachers. The panel therefore found that Mr Lopez Vazquez’s actions constituted conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. Having found allegation 2 proved, the panel went on to consider whether Mr Lopez Vazquez’s conviction was for a relevant offence, which he also admitted. Whilst the panel took Mr Lopez Vazquez’s admission into account, it made its own, independent determination. The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Lopez Vazquez in relation to the facts it found proved involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards. The panel considered that by reference to Part 2, Mr Lopez Vazquez was in breach of the following standards: • Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by o having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions • Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities. Further and in addition, the panel noted that, pursuant to the Advice it is likely that a conviction for any of the following would amount to a relevant offence: • Serious driving offences particularly those involving alcohol Over and above this, the panel determined that Mr Lopez Vazquez’s actions were clearly relevant to teaching, working with children and working in an education setting. As mentioned, Mr Lopez Vazquez offence was committed whilst he was transporting a child as a passenger. The panel also took account of the way the teaching profession is viewed by others. The panel considered that Mr Lopez Vazque