West London SEN Teacher Banned for Five Years Over Drink-Driving and On-Site Intoxication
- james carson
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
A special educational needs (SEN) teacher in West London has been banned from teaching for at least five years after being found guilty of multiple alcohol-related incidents, including a drink-driving offence with a child in the car and arriving at school intoxicated.
Alexandra Zbanca, 41, was found to be under the influence of alcohol while at work and was convicted of drink-driving with a child passenger, according to a tribunal ruling published last month by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
Serious safeguarding failures
The tribunal heard that Zbanca was employed at Pield Heath House School in Uxbridge through a supply agency when, in May 2022, she was involved in a drink-driving incident. A child, referred to as Child B for legal reasons, was in the passenger seat at the time.
Police discovered two empty wine bottles in nappy bags inside the vehicle, an apparent attempt to conceal her drinking. A subsequent social worker’s report described her actions as “severe negligence” that could have resulted in tragedy.
She was later convicted at Willesden Magistrates’ Court for being in charge of a vehicle while unfit to drive through alcohol and for being drunk in charge of a child. Her sentence included a community order, 10 penalty points on her driving licence, rehabilitation activities, and financial penalties.
Returning to work while intoxicated
Despite the conviction, Zbanca secured a new role at Pentland Field School in Ickenham in November 2022, again through the same agency. By February 2023, colleagues raised concerns about her behaviour, reporting that she appeared intoxicated on school premises.
A staff member, identified as Witness A, described her as unsteady on her feet and unable to walk in a straight line. When confronted, Zbanca admitted to drinking. Upon checking her belongings, staff found two unsealed bottles of wine and a water bottle that smelled of alcohol. Witnesses also alleged that she attempted to teach while intoxicated but collapsed during the lesson.
According to the tribunal, Zbanca later admitted to drinking at a pub before coming onto school grounds and pouring wine into a water bottle.
Breach of professional standards
The panel concluded that her actions represented a fundamental failure to uphold professional and safeguarding responsibilities. They ruled that she should be subject to a prohibition order, preventing her from teaching or working in education for at least five years.
In their findings, the panel stated: “As a teacher, Ms Zbanca had a duty to safeguard pupils. Her repeated failures to do so—by arriving at school under the influence of alcohol and endangering a child while drink-driving—demonstrate a serious breach of professional standards.”
Response from schools and agencies
Pentland Field School confirmed that Zbanca was an agency worker and that immediate safeguarding action was taken when concerns were raised. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We want to reassure our school community that this matter was dealt with swiftly and in accordance with our policies. The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff are always our highest priority.”
The school also clarified that none of the children mentioned in the tribunal report were pupils at their institution.
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