Ms Lottie Littlehales

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

Teacher's name: Ms Lottie Littlehales

Teacher reference number: 0747259

Teacher's date of birth: 27 March 1987

Location teacher worked: Sandwell, West Midlands

Date of professional conduct panel: 13 August 2021

Outcome type: prohibition order

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 Ms Lottie Littlehales, formerly employed in Sandwell, West Midlands.

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.

Ms Lottie Littlehales: Professional conduct panel meeting outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education August 2021 2 Contents Introduction 3 Allegations 4 Preliminary applications 4 Summary of evidence 4 Documents 4 Statement of agreed facts 5 Decision and reasons 5 Findings of fact 6 Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State 9 Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State 11 3 Professional conduct panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State Teacher: Ms Lottie Littlehales Teacher ref number: 0747259 Teacher date of birth: 27 March 1987 TRA reference: 19227 Date of determination: 13 August 2021 Former employer: Temple Meadow Primary School, Cradley Heath Introduction A professional conduct panel (“the panel”) of the Teaching Regulation Agency (“the TRA”) convened on 13 August 2021 by way of a virtual hearing, to consider the case of Ms Lottie Littlehales. The panel members were Mr John Martin (teacher panellist – in the chair), Ms Mona Sood (lay panellist) and Mr Jeremy Phillips QC (lay panellist). The legal adviser to the panel was Mrs Rebecca Utton of Birketts LLP solicitors. In advance of the meeting, after taking into consideration the public interest and the interests of justice, the TRA agreed to a request from Ms Littlehales that the allegations be considered without a hearing. Ms Littlehales provided a signed statement of agreed facts and admitted unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. The panel considered the case at a meeting without the attendance of the presenting officer, Eimear Meenan of Fieldfisher LLP, Ms Littlehales or any representative. The meeting took place in private by way of a virtual hearing, save for the announcement of the panel’s decision, which was announced in public and recorded. 4 Allegations The panel considered the allegations set out in the notice of meeting dated 15 June 2021. It was alleged that Ms Littlehales was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that whilst working as a teacher at Temple Meadow Primary School: 1. On or around 26 July 2019, she failed to maintain high standards of behaviour in that she procured, possessed and consumed a class A drug (cocaine); 2. On or around 27 September 2019 she failed to maintain high standards of behaviour in that, following an Occupational Health appointment, she possessed and consumed a class A drug (cocaine); 3. On 7 October 2019 she failed to maintain high standards of behaviour in that she attended school smelling of alcohol. Ms Littlehales admitted the facts of allegations 1 to 3 and that her behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, as set out in the response to the notice of proceedings dated 26 October 2020 and in the statement of agreed facts signed by Ms Littlehales on 2 May 2021. Preliminary applications There were no preliminary applications. Summary of evidence Documents In advance of the meeting, the panel received a bundle of documents which included: • Section 1: Index, chronology and list of key people – pages 1 to 6 • Section 2: Notice of referral, response and notice of meeting – pages 7 to 22.b • Section 3: Statement of agreed facts, PCPM pro forma request and presenting officer representations – pages 23 to 28 • Section 4: Teaching Regulation Agency documents – pages 29 to 115 • Section 5: Teacher documents – pages 116 to 117 5 The panel members confirmed that they had read all of the documents within the bundle, in advance of the meeting. Statement of agreed facts The panel considered a statement of agreed facts which Ms Littlehales had signed on 2 May 2021. Decision and reasons The panel announced its decision and reasons as follows: In advance of the meeting, the TRA agreed to a request from Ms Littlehales for the allegations to be considered without a hearing. The panel had the ability to direct that the case be considered at a hearing if required in the interests of justice or in the public interest. The panel did not determine that such a direction was necessary or appropriate in this case. In summary, Ms Littlehales was employed by Temple Meadow Primary School (‘the School’), as a class teacher with a teaching and learning responsibility for dance and PE, from 1 September 2018. Ms Littlehales attended a party with colleagues, following a work gathering, on 26 July 2019. Ms Littlehales allegedly procured, possessed and consumed a class A drug (cocaine) during this evening. On 6 August 2019, Individual A disclosed this information to Individual B. The school then made a referral to the LADO. However, it was considered that the threshold for the LADO involvement was not met. A meeting was held at the School with Ms Littlehales, on 3 September 2019, in which Ms Littlehales admitted that she had an issue with alcohol. Ms Littlehales further stated that her drug use on 26 July 2019 was a “one off”. Ms Littlehales attended an occupational health appointment on 17 September 2019. A drugs and alcohol test was arranged, in which the result was negative. However, Ms Littlehales later admitted to obtaining and using cocaine. On 7 October 2019, Individual B and Individual A stated that they smelled alcohol on Ms Littlehales whilst at school. The School subsequently updated the previously submitted LADO referral and suspended Ms Littlehales, on 8 October 2019, to enable an internal investigation. A professional meeting, on 16 October 2019, confirmed that no further action would be taken by LADO and the School would deal with the matter internally. Occupational health 6 arranged a second drugs screening and alcohol test for Ms Littlehales, for which the result was negative. On 14 November 2019, Ms Littlehales resigned from her employment at the School. The TRA received a referral from the Disclosure and Barring Service on 20 March 2020. Findings of fact The findings of fact are as follows: The panel found the following particulars of the allegations against you proved, for these reasons: 1. On or around 26 July 2019, you failed to maintain high standards of behaviour in that you procured, possessed and consumed a class A drug (cocaine); The panel noted that in the response to the notice of proceedings dated 26 October 2020 and in the statement of agreed facts, which Ms Littlehales signed on 2 May 2021, Ms Littlehales admitted the facts of allegation 1. Notwithstanding this, the panel made its own determination on the facts of the allegations on all of the evidence before it. The panel considered the witness statement of Individual A in which she detailed how she had witnessed Ms Littlehales consuming a class A drug. Individual A stated that when she enquired with Ms Littlehales what the substance was, Ms Littlehales stated it was cocaine. The panel also considered the statement of Ms Littlehales, in which she admitted to asking Individual A’s son to take her to procure the class A drug, which she then proceeded to take in front of Individual A. The panel found the facts of allegation 1 proved. 2. On or around 27 September 2019 you failed to maintain high standards of behaviour in that, following an Occupational Health appointment, you possessed and consumed a class A drug (cocaine); The panel noted that in the response to the notice of proceedings dated 26 October 2020 and in the statement of agreed facts, which Ms Littlehales signed on 2 May 2021, Ms Littlehales admitted the facts of allegation 2. Notwithstanding this, the panel made its own determination on the facts of the allegations on all of the evidence before it. 7 The panel considered the statement of Ms Littlehales, in which she admitted that following her Occupational Health appointment, she did take cocaine again. The panel found the facts of allegation 2 proved. 3. On 7 October 2019 you failed to maintain high standards of behaviour in that you attended school smelling of alcohol. The panel noted that in the response to the notice of proceedings dated 26 October 2020 and in the statement of agreed facts, which Ms Littlehales signed on 2 May 2021, Ms Littlehales admitted the facts of allegation 3. Notwithstanding this, the panel made its own determination on the facts of the allegations on all of the evidence before it. The panel considered the witness statement of Individual A, who recalled that on 7 October 2019, Ms Littlehales had messaged her to say she was not having a good day. Further, as Individual A walked into the staff room, she could evidently smell alcohol on Ms Littlehales. In addition, the panel noted that Individual B was said to have indicated that she could smell alcohol on Ms Littlehales. The panel noted that the allegation was consistent with the admission made by Ms Littlehales in her statement to consuming significant amounts of alcohol and the acceptance that it was possible alcohol could be smelt on her. The panel found the facts of allegation 3 proved. Findings as to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute Having found allegations 1 to 3 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 was satisfied that the conduct of Ms Littlehales in relation to the facts found proved, involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards. The panel considered that, by reference to Part 2, Ms Littlehales was in breach of the followin