Veteran English Teacher Banned from Profession After Admitting Weekend Crystal Meth Use

A long-serving English teacher at a prestigious private school in London has been prohibited from working in the teaching profession after admitting that he had used crystal methamphetamine during weekends. The case has raised questions about professional responsibility, teachers’ personal conduct and the extent to which private behavior can affect public confidence in educators.

Charles Richard Miles, a 64-year-old teacher who had spent approximately four decades working at the Dwight School in London, acknowledged using crystal methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant belonging to the amphetamine family. He reportedly attempted to reassure his employers that his drug consumption was limited and under control, describing it as something he did to help himself relax rather than as an addiction.

The Dwight School is an international private institution whose London campus charges annual tuition fees of as much as £37,500. The school also operates campuses in several major cities around the world, including New York, Dubai, Hanoi, Shanghai and Seoul. Miles had worked at the London school since 1985 and eventually became an English as an Additional Language and Learning Support teacher.

His employment came under scrutiny after police visited his flat in Hackney in November 2024. Officers had attended following a report concerning a problem involving water in the property. During their involvement, however, information about Miles’ drug use came to the attention of social workers.

A subsequent report reportedly stated that there was clear evidence suggesting that Miles smoked crystal methamphetamine. The revelation eventually resulted in discussions between the teacher and school management about his behavior and whether it could affect his professional responsibilities.

During a meeting with school representatives, Miles attempted to explain that although the school was worried about his drug use, he did not consider himself dependent on the substance. He reportedly emphasized that he believed he was capable of controlling his consumption.

The issue did not disappear, however, and concerns about Miles continued into 2025. By April of that year, he began informing colleagues that he intended to retire. The following month, school officials sent him formal correspondence referring specifically to his reported use of crystal methamphetamine during weekends. Another communication subsequently acknowledged his decision to retire.

Although there was no evidence presented to suggest that any pupil had been directly harmed by Miles’ drug use, the professional conduct panel concluded that his behavior nevertheless created serious concerns about his suitability to remain a teacher.

The panel heard that there appeared to have been repeated use of the drug rather than an isolated incident. It also considered evidence suggesting that the substance had affected his general presentation, wellbeing and ability to function professionally.

School management had reportedly observed changes in Miles’ behavior and presentation. Their concerns eventually culminated in an incident on November 5, 2024, when he was asked to leave the school. The precise circumstances surrounding that incident were not made public because parts of the evidence had been removed or redacted from the publicly available record.

The professional conduct proceedings therefore focused not only on the fact that Miles had taken an illegal drug, but also on the potential consequences of his behavior for his responsibilities as an educator. Teachers are expected to provide children with a safe and stable environment, and the panel determined that Miles’ conduct had seriously undermined his ability to meet that expectation.

Miles argued that his drug consumption should be regarded as a private issue that was separate from his professional life. From his perspective, what he did outside school and during his personal time should not necessarily determine whether he was capable of teaching effectively.

The regulatory panel rejected that argument. It concluded that the distinction between his private behavior and his professional responsibilities could not be maintained in this case because of the seriousness and repeated nature of his drug use.

The panel was particularly concerned by what it regarded as Miles’ limited understanding of the seriousness of his actions. According to the findings, he demonstrated insufficient insight into his behavior and did not show an appropriate level of remorse. There was also no evidence before the panel that he had sought professional treatment or other assistance to address his drug use.

The panel considered the potential impact on public confidence in the teaching profession. Its report stated that if members of the public became aware that a teacher was using crystal methamphetamine, they could reasonably question whether that individual was suitable to carry out the responsibilities associated with teaching.

This consideration was particularly important because teachers work closely with children and have a duty to protect their welfare. Even when no direct harm to pupils can be demonstrated, regulators may still take action if a teacher’s conduct raises serious concerns about their judgment, reliability or ability to maintain a safe environment.

After considering evidence from both Miles and representatives of the school, the panel concluded that allowing him to continue teaching would pose an unacceptable risk to confidence in his professional suitability.

It subsequently recommended that Miles be permanently prohibited from teaching, subject to the possibility of a future review. The recommendation was passed to the Secretary of State for Education, Lucy Powell, and was accepted on her behalf by a civil servant.

The decision means that Miles is no longer permitted to work as a teacher. He has now retired following a career at the Dwight School that lasted around 40 years. His long period of service at the institution makes the case particularly notable, as he had spent the majority of his professional life working with pupils at the same school.

Miles is also known as an amateur poet, demonstrating that his interests extend beyond education. Despite the teaching ban, the decision does not necessarily prevent him from ever returning to the classroom. Under the terms of the ruling, he will be able to request a review of the prohibition after five years.

The case highlights the increasingly complex expectations placed on teachers outside the classroom. While educators retain a right to privacy in their personal lives, professional regulators may intervene when private conduct is considered sufficiently serious to affect public trust, professional judgment or the welfare of children.

It also raises broader questions about how schools and regulatory bodies should respond when employees engage in illegal behavior away from the workplace. Some may argue that an individual’s personal activities should remain separate from their employment, particularly when there is no evidence of direct harm to pupils. Others maintain that teachers occupy positions of significant responsibility and therefore must meet higher standards of conduct, even outside school.

In Miles’ case, the panel ultimately determined that the repeated use of crystal methamphetamine could not simply be dismissed as a private matter. The concerns surrounding his wellbeing, professional functioning, behavior and lack of demonstrated efforts to seek help were considered sufficient to undermine his fitness to teach.

The ruling therefore represents the end of a four-decade teaching career. Although Miles has retired, the possibility of applying for a review in five years gives him a potential route back into the profession should he be able to demonstrate meaningful changes in his circumstances.

The case serves as a reminder that teaching involves responsibilities extending beyond classroom instruction. Maintaining the confidence of pupils, parents, schools and the wider public is regarded as an essential part of the profession. For regulators, protecting children and preserving trust in educators ultimately outweighed the teacher’s argument that his weekend drug use was a matter belonging solely to his private life.